East Boston Mobilizes on the Toll Hike Issue

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.

For newer residents of East Boston like myself, I am told that this level of community activism on a single issue is reminiscent of the intrusion of Logan Airport into East Boston several decades ago.  At one point, residents physically blocked bulldozers from operating to expand the airport area.  On the toll issue, we have seen the same airport activists join forces with the new East Boston residents that include younger families and professionals as well as new immigrant groups.  In a neighborhood where the long-time residents are sometimes more likely to be opposite the “newer” residents on an issue, on the toll increase we are all standing together to influence policy on a state-wide level. 

Of particular concern to the neighborhood was the lack of notice about the Turnpike board vote.  Several months ago we were told that we might lose the East Boston resident Fast Lane discount that allows us to pay only $0.40 cents for using one of the tunnels.  Without this discount it would be hard for anyone using the tunnel on a daily basis to afford almost $25 per week (once per day at the current rate).  While there were community rumblings about the discount issue, it was quite a shock when we woke up one day to the news that the Turnpike board had already voted to increase the Ted Williams and Sumner Tunnel tolls from $3.50 to $7.00 and that hearings would be scheduled on the issue after the vote.  For a community accustomed to the heavy-handed tactics of Massport, this was seen as another offense by a state agency against our small community that cumulated in a rapid and aggressive mobilization I have not seen since I moved to the neighborhood. 

One debate that I would like to see East Boston become more vocal about is to openly discuss the causes of this proposed toll increase and alternatives to toll increases as a revenue generating measure.  We are a fairly low-income neighborhood where regressive taxes and revenue generation methods disproportionally affect communities like ours.  A toll increase that affects a low income neighborhood for the benefit of others can provide for an excellent framework to have a discussion about how tolls fit into an overall state revenue model as well as how and why a single low income population should pay for a highway that stretches across many other high and middle income towns.  If we can use the intensity over the toll increase to highlight alternatives and encourage debate over tax equity and economic justice, it will be an excellent way to set the tone for the budget discussions that will happen over the coming year.