EVERETT, Mass. — A North Shore mayor said his city's streets could become even more packed when MassDOT begins charging tolls on the Tobin Bridge in both directions.
Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said his city will be impacted the most by the change and he wasn’t given notice by the state.
Currently, drivers on the Tobin are only charged as they drive in to Boston, but with the new tolls, DeMaria worries more drivers will take surface roads.
“Major concern is that people will avoid using the northbound section of the Tobin Bridge now, will drive through Everett using Route 16 and 99 as their cut-through back to the North Shore,” he said.
MassDOT said they notified Everett of the changes in 2013 when the plan was announced, but DeMaria said there has been no follow up since then.
The planning began under Gov. Deval Patrick, but Gov. Charlie Baker said he also supports the plan from the previous administration.
“I find it hard to come up with an argument that would suggest that we should only toll in one direction,” Baker said.
MassDOT said when the northbound tolls become operational later this year drivers in both directions will be charged $1.25.
Cox Media Group
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