All-Electronic Tolling’s First Test: Monday’s Morning Commute
Photo via AP
All-electronic tolling officially hit the Massachusetts Turnpike late last Friday night. But the first true test of the Mass. Pike’s massive overhaul comes with the Monday morning commute.
Right now Weston toll plaza as eastbound traffic comes toward you @MassDOT says no traffic congestion Weston pic.twitter.com/B6iOBRBk7O
— Jacquelyn Goddard (@JacqueGoddard) October 31, 2016
Instead of stopping at toll plazas and fishing that precious last quarter from the crevices of the passenger seat, the thousands of drivers that frequent the MassPike each day will cruise under any number of the 16 new gantries, which will photograph your license plate and send a bill to the corresponding address, if you don’t have E-ZPass.
Of course, the tollbooths still must be uprooted from the route, turning the middle lanes into construction zones. The entire transition is expected to take one year. A Northeastern University traffic expert told the Globe that those traveling along the Pike around 8:45 could experience the worst of the congestion, particularly around the Allston-Brighton tolls—or what’s left of them.
And POOF the Allston Brighton toll plaza is gone @fox25news #skyfox pic.twitter.com/XzI4jSYjIW
— Julie Grauert (@JulieGrauert) October 31, 2016
#MassPike toll booth demo continues, plan extra time, take it slow through work zones. pic.twitter.com/UDJXo2j5vz
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) October 31, 2016
All-electronic tolling is expected to save around $5 million in operating costs each year, according to officials. The destruction of the tollbooths is expected to cost as much as $132.8 million.
