Consolidate all the freaking different transportation agencies, reduce redundency, then figure out if we need to increase taxes (screw the people out west, they're part of our common wealth and should help pay for utilities and infrastructure that benefits us all).
They should have installed tolls years ago so that the people who benefited most from the Big Dig (suburban commuters) would pay the tab. I'd say one toll both on the southbound lanes in Charlestown and one toll both on the northbound lanes just before the junction with MassPike with a toll of $10 would be just about right.
Because what we really need along Route 93 is the increased air pollution from cars and trucks dealing with toll booths. After all, the environmental burden on those close communities from the Big Dig was only enough to cause lawsuits and settlements that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to implement.
Toll booths are a terribly inefficient way to increase revenue. And they only reduce traffic when they consistently cause traffic slowdowns and backups.
OMG! Obviously, there's too much demand for I-93 during peak hours at the current bargain rate of $0 dollars. Raising the price will decrease this demand, reduce congestion, and generating income to reduce the tax pressure maintaining the road puts on the Commonwealth as a whole.
In fact, if you do it right, the market will select the lowest possible price at which the road will never be congested. Lols! It's like you never went to Econ school or something.
Srsly, the T isn't free. Why would you expect the highways to be? You think it's because you "pay" for maintaining your car? EPIC FAIL!
Between road repairs, public health costs due to air pollution and a sedentary lifestyle, loss of productivity due to congestion, lack of available parking, massively over-sized carbon footprint, and general deterioration of neighborhoods, the price of car ownership doesn't even begin to cover costs driving to work each day puts on society.
I think this isn't all that feasible, but I think there should be a reliable rapid transit line (maybe an OJ line extension or express commuter rail shuttle of some sort) with tons of parking, with stations at the 93 intersections with 128 and 495. I know this was kinda the original plan but it got nimby'ed to death in the later half of the 20th century.
The only way this can be made to work is if the tolls are collected from most drivers at highway speed, using FastLane or similar technology. That seems to be what they're looking at, in any event.
I should have said no tollbooths as opposed to no tolls. I have a FastLane transponder and I do from time to time drive on the Mass. Pike, but more often on 93. It's not that I mind paying tolls, it's that I mind the backup and lane switching chaos that tollbooths create.
Oh, wait a minute. That's already being done. It's called excise tax. And gasoline tax. And licensing fees. And registration fees. And I could go on, but why belabor the obvious?
The point of putting tolls on 93 is to get them New Hampshirites who always ding us on our way up to Maine, but make a habit out of not paying excise, and gasoline, and registration taxes in our state.
Although I'd agree that putting tolls on roads, generally speaking, will reduce the amount people drive, that system only works where the toll money is then pumped back into public transit to allow people to get out of their cars. Problem here is that the State wants to use the toll money just to fill the budget gap and maintain existing roads. This isn't going to get many people, if anyone, out of their cars.
Comments
Hell no, Consolidate all the
Hell no,
Consolidate all the freaking different transportation agencies, reduce redundency, then figure out if we need to increase taxes (screw the people out west, they're part of our common wealth and should help pay for utilities and infrastructure that benefits us all).
Hell yes
They should have installed tolls years ago so that the people who benefited most from the Big Dig (suburban commuters) would pay the tab. I'd say one toll both on the southbound lanes in Charlestown and one toll both on the northbound lanes just before the junction with MassPike with a toll of $10 would be just about right.
Because what we really need
Because what we really need along Route 93 is the increased air pollution from cars and trucks dealing with toll booths. After all, the environmental burden on those close communities from the Big Dig was only enough to cause lawsuits and settlements that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to implement.
Toll booths are a terribly inefficient way to increase revenue. And they only reduce traffic when they consistently cause traffic slowdowns and backups.
Tolls without toll booths
are what they seem to be talking about here. Other states have them.
supply and demand, people
OMG! Obviously, there's too much demand for I-93 during peak hours at the current bargain rate of $0 dollars. Raising the price will decrease this demand, reduce congestion, and generating income to reduce the tax pressure maintaining the road puts on the Commonwealth as a whole.
In fact, if you do it right, the market will select the lowest possible price at which the road will never be congested. Lols! It's like you never went to Econ school or something.
Srsly, the T isn't free. Why would you expect the highways to be? You think it's because you "pay" for maintaining your car? EPIC FAIL!
Between road repairs, public health costs due to air pollution and a sedentary lifestyle, loss of productivity due to congestion, lack of available parking, massively over-sized carbon footprint, and general deterioration of neighborhoods, the price of car ownership doesn't even begin to cover costs driving to work each day puts on society.
Dur.
kthanxbye,
-Econ Cat
I would reconsider basing
I would reconsider basing your persona on a very niche internet meme.
Thanks for Econ 101, lesson
Thanks for Econ 101, lesson 1. Did you stick around for the rest of the class, or just go smoke a bowl?
I’m not even going to bother to start talking about the monopolistic issues roads present.
I think this isn't all that
I think this isn't all that feasible, but I think there should be a reliable rapid transit line (maybe an OJ line extension or express commuter rail shuttle of some sort) with tons of parking, with stations at the 93 intersections with 128 and 495. I know this was kinda the original plan but it got nimby'ed to death in the later half of the 20th century.
no tolls on 93
Traffic is bad enough on 93 as it is. Installing tolls is a bad idea - the revenue will be mismanaged anyway.
no tolls, or no tollbooths?
The only way this can be made to work is if the tolls are collected from most drivers at highway speed, using FastLane or similar technology. That seems to be what they're looking at, in any event.
no tollbooths
I should have said no tollbooths as opposed to no tolls. I have a FastLane transponder and I do from time to time drive on the Mass. Pike, but more often on 93. It's not that I mind paying tolls, it's that I mind the backup and lane switching chaos that tollbooths create.
Let's Charge A Toll For Every Road!
Oh, wait a minute. That's already being done. It's called excise tax. And gasoline tax. And licensing fees. And registration fees. And I could go on, but why belabor the obvious?
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
93 tolls
Psst, Suldog!
The point of putting tolls on 93 is to get them New Hampshirites who always ding us on our way up to Maine, but make a habit out of not paying excise, and gasoline, and registration taxes in our state.
Ontday Elltay!
Arnday!
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Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
And they painted them yellow.
I'd be for it if they could get high speed FastLane receivers.
Increase the gas tax. Easy
Increase the gas tax. Easy to do, people will drive less, done.
Not in this case
Although I'd agree that putting tolls on roads, generally speaking, will reduce the amount people drive, that system only works where the toll money is then pumped back into public transit to allow people to get out of their cars. Problem here is that the State wants to use the toll money just to fill the budget gap and maintain existing roads. This isn't going to get many people, if anyone, out of their cars.