tolls

State reps Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont) and Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) met with constituents in Belmont last night to talk about tolls, taxes, road and rails (as reported in the Belmont Citizen Herald). What makes this meeting somewhat remarkable is that it’s relatively rare for lawmakers to talk so frankly and openly about taxes.

But with I-90, commuter rails and Green Line rails running through their respective districts, neither lawmaker can ignore the looming funding problems our state’s transportation entities are facing. Kudos to the solons for bringing in Mike Widmer, President of the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation, to explain the relative merits of several solutions being kicked around Beacon Hill:

Amid the state-wide discussion over the proposed increase in Mass Pike tolls, one of the communities that could be most affected by the proposal has rapidly organized itself to voice their concerns to state agencies and elected officials, while taking direct action through public meetings and even on the streets of East Boston.

Almost immediately after the Turnpike board voted to increase the tolls, two well-trafficked websites were created (www.stopthehike.org and www.stopthepikehike.org) and a large public meeting was scheduled at a local restaurant.  At every civic association or community meeting during the month of November, regular agenda items were put on hold while the residents discussed the proposed toll hike and how it would affect the community.  Anyone with a an email address in East Boston received multiple mass emails from their friends and neighbors informing them of the next meeting on the issue or directing them to contact a state official. Today at 4PM there will be a large rally in front of the Sumner Tunnel and later a City Council hearing at the High School.  Other hearings, rallies, and meetings are scheduled through January.