Lights going out on Big Dig bridge as legislature moves to end Mass Turnpike

Mass Turnpike's executive director has staff turning off the Zakim Bridge decorative blue lighting which has made the bridge an attractive feature on the night skyline of Boston. He says the Turnpike is in severe financial straights and must save money wherever it can.

The decorative lights cost about $5,000/month in electric bills, so he's saving $60k/year. Lights illuminating the roadway and locating the bridge to airplanes flying in and out of Boston's Logan Airport will stay on.

LeBovidge told the Boston Globe today: "I've got to make it through... It is like crawling over broken glass."

New economy measures follow the board's decision to go back on a toll increase that would have gone into effect by now.

Avoiding any action that will affect safety LeBovidge is also investigating the feasibility of reducing electric bills be turning off every 4th light in the Big Dig tunnels.

Neither the Zakin Bridge nor all but one of the Big Dig tunnels earn a cent of toll revenue to cover their expenses.

Meanwhile legislation to abolish the Turnpike Authority is proceeding through the legislature although the politicians have still not faced up to how to raise the money to close huge transit and turnpike deficits. They talk loftily of savings through "reform" as if larger scale and reorganization produces economies.

In any case management of the Turnpike facilities and tolling collection will be a major function of a new mega-agency being formed - along the lines of the transit dominated New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Tolls will likely be a major cash cow for the loss-making transit systems of Boston, whose historic 'T' subways and trolleys are like a live Smithsonian Museum exhibit.  But unlike the Smithsonian the admission fees of the 'T' don't cover costs.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-04-09