Toll Equity Trust Blog

Statement from Jan Schlichtmann, lead attorney, Massachusetts Turnpike Toll Equity Trust

“We are of course disappointed with the ruling today but our cause endures and the 2,300-strong Toll Equity Trust will immediately appeal this ruling. We believe there is a fundamental constitutional principal involved that must be vindicated: The government cannot constitutionally charge some drivers to use a road system in order for most of the drivers to use it for free. We will immediately petition the Appeals Court to right this wrong and uphold the basic constitutional principal that governmental fees must be fair and equitable.”

The word on toll equity is most definitely spreading and people are naturally starting to take notice.

Today, the people of Wellesley are reading about the bold actions of their friends and neighbors who have signed on to our toll equity effort. Check out this story from the Wellesley Townsman, titled “Frustrated Drivers, Including Some from Wellesley, Sue Over Pike Tolls.”

Check out the story of Charles Ellis, who has to drive into Cambridge three or four times a week and tries when he can to go around the tolls to save on his costs. Any of you who drive on Route 16 – particularly during rush hour – know the kind of pain that can cause.

But Charles is doing it, like so many of you, not just because the costs of the Pike are exorbitant but because he knows like you all do that the Pike has admitted 58 cents of every dollar that comes out of his Fast Lane account or that goes into the toll-taker’s hand is being diverted to pay for a highway he uses far less often and millions drive on for free every year.

Amazing, but true. (more…)

The march toward toll equity hasn’t been exactly a speedy one for the people shouldering the huge burden of paying not only for the roads they are driving, but also the Big Dig roads everyone north and south of Boston drives for free.

But the last few months (since May 8, when we filed this class action lawsuit) have been momentous ones for our cause and the voices of reform and basic fairness keep growing louder and louder. (more…)