Gov. Deval Patrick is likely to find some members of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce in a less-than-joyous mood when he addresses the business group's annual meeting tonight at the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers.
The reason: Residents of this corner of the state are once again being asked to bear a disproportionate share of the Big Dig debt.
It's easy to see why. While all of Boston's suburbs benefit from the costly highway project, the only tollbooths are located on the roads entering the city from the west and northeast. So rather than inconvenience others by erecting new tolls, or upsetting everyone in the commonwealth by increasing the state gasoline tax, why not just raise the existing tolls?
That may be the politically expedient approach, but it is patently unfair to those who must drive into Boston via the Tobin Bridge, the Massachusetts Turnpike, or the harbor tunnels. They're now looking at a 100-percent increase in the fare the state Turnpike and Port authorities exact for using those facilities.
That's a slap in the face as well as the pocketbook, and we're happy to note members of the region's legislative delegation have called for a freeze on any toll increase pending passage of a comprehensive plan for financing the state's transportation needs.
Everything, including the privatization of some elements of the existing infrastructure, should be on the table.
We understand it's not reasonable, nor good public policy, to eliminate the existing tolls. But there should be some recognition that in exchange for the burden the North Shore and western suburbs bear in paying for a transportation infrastructure that's of vital importance not only to the state, but all of New England, they should have some kind of priority when it comes to doling out money for new projects.
Route 128 north of Peabody's Centennial Park, for instance, hasn't seen any serious improvements since the highway was constructed a half-century ago.
And more frequent commuter rail service and more parking at area train stations, would allow more commuters to avoid using the harbor tunnels and bridge altogether.
We understand that coming up with the money to pay existing debts and finance future improvements will not be easy, and that there's little time to waste. But not only do the governor and legislative leadership need to come up with a comprehensive plan fast, they must also make sure that it's fair.
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