SALEM — Have something to say about a $7 toll at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnels?
Monday night is your chance to sound off on the planned doubling of tolls — from $3.50 to $7 — when the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority holds a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. in Lynn.
The two-hour hearing will be at Lynn City Hall, 3 City Hall Square, and the public is invited to weigh in on the plan.
State Rep. John Keenan is hoping North Shore residents will put their Christmas shopping on hold for a night to make the trek to Lynn.
"I hope the house is packed and not everybody is at Walmart," Keenan said. "I'm doing everything I can to get my constituents out, and my colleagues are doing the same."
In November, the Turnpike Authority approved a toll hike for the tunnels, as well as a 75 cent increase at the Weston and Allston-Brighton tollbooths on the Mass Pike.
Last week, legislators from the North Shore and West of Boston met with Gov. Deval Patrick, alerting him to the pitfalls of a $7 toll, which could cost the average commuter about $1,800 a year.
Keenan's office has been bombarded with calls from residents.
"I've dealt with some pretty controversial things, like gay marriage and in-state tuition," Keenan said. "This has been consistently a pretty high volume of people against. I've not had a single person call in favor of increasing the tolls or suggesting it's fair. I don't see how anybody could say with a straight face that increasing tolls from $3.50 to $7 for people on the North Shore is fair."
Keenan wants the Turnpike Authority to freeze the hikes until a comprehensive plan is passed.
Some would rather see a hike in the state gas tax instead of a toll increase.
Regardless, Keenan believes public input could make a difference Monday night.
"Unless their whole process is a sham, I'm hoping they will listen," Keenan said. "If there's a hearing and only 20 people show up, they'll think no one's upset and feel comfortable doubling tolls. But if there are 200 people there who are very upset and angry that the North Shore is getting whacked with this, maybe they'll think again."
Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salemnews.com.
IF YOU GO
What: Massachusetts Turnpike Authority public hearing on proposed toll hike at the Sumner and Callahan tunnels (from $3.50 to $7)
Where: Lynn City Hall, 3 City Hall Square
When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
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