According to masslive.com, the new electronic Mass Pike tolls will not include a gantry between exits 14 and 16, allowing Boston commuters to enter or exit the Pike at exit 14 or exit 16 for the same toll. This could have profound effects on traffic patterns on Route 16, as well as various other cut-throughs, and enable Newton to transform the road into something far more livable.
No joke: free ride coming from Weston to West Newton on I-90
by Adam Peller | Apr 2, 2016 | traffic | 20 comments
Adam…can you be more explicit…what will happen for local and longer distance commuter traffic? I don’t quite grasp the implications.
Adam…can you be more explicit…what will happen for local and longer distance commuter traffic? I don’t quite grasp the implications.
How much will the new toll be in each direction?
Will we now see more traffic going to and through the infamous Newton Corner Rotary/exit 17, as folks look to avoid the newly relocated toll point, and try to enter/exit at Newton Corner instead?
Is this the end of free trips between Newton Corner and West Newton — meaning a bunch more cars on the parallel section of Washington Street?
Sounds good for Washington Street around the Hospital/ West Newton, though.
This is a mixed bag for Newton, I think.
How much will the new toll be in each direction?
Will we now see more traffic going to and through the infamous Newton Corner Rotary/exit 17, as folks look to avoid the newly relocated toll point, and try to enter/exit at Newton Corner instead?
Is this the end of free trips between Newton Corner and West Newton — meaning a bunch more cars on the parallel section of Washington Street?
Sounds good for Washington Street around the Hospital/ West Newton, though.
This is a mixed bag for Newton, I think.
That’s what I was wondering, Al. I’d like to see a projection for traffic change along the tpke from natick thru newton corner. How will daily commuter traffic change its behavior to save a few cents?
That’s what I was wondering, Al. I’d like to see a projection for traffic change along the tpke from natick thru newton corner. How will daily commuter traffic change its behavior to save a few cents?
I looked at the MassDOT site (http://www.massdotinnovation.com/Pdfs/Session1D-AllElectronicTolling.pdf). Map on p. 29. Looks like a gantry in Newtonville, but it’s unclear from the site whether it’s before or after the Newtonville exit.
If Weston-West Newton is gantry-free, real estate along Washington Street west of Exit 16 could be worth a lot more…if the City is willing to return it to residential road status rather than near-highway-status.
@Al–I think the tolls are to remain the same (unless you don’t have EZ-Pass. The pay-by-plate system will cost you $1-2 more per toll). But the technology will allow MassDOT to–if it wants–change the toll (up OR down) depending on demand (pricing to deter congestion), among other things.
I looked at the MassDOT site (http://www.massdotinnovation.com/Pdfs/Session1D-AllElectronicTolling.pdf). Map on p. 29. Looks like a gantry in Newtonville, but it’s unclear from the site whether it’s before or after the Newtonville exit.
If Weston-West Newton is gantry-free, real estate along Washington Street west of Exit 16 could be worth a lot more…if the City is willing to return it to residential road status rather than near-highway-status.
@Al–I think the tolls are to remain the same (unless you don’t have EZ-Pass. The pay-by-plate system will cost you $1-2 more per toll). But the technology will allow MassDOT to–if it wants–change the toll (up OR down) depending on demand (pricing to deter congestion), among other things.
FOUND IT:
http://www.wcvb.com/news/tolls-coming-back-to-west-newton-under-new-tollig-system/26548872
West Newton-to-Newtonville will have a gantry.
Charge: $.40.
Cost from West Newton-to-Copley (now $1.25): $.80
FOUND IT:
http://www.wcvb.com/news/tolls-coming-back-to-west-newton-under-new-tollig-system/26548872
West Newton-to-Newtonville will have a gantry.
Charge: $.40.
Cost from West Newton-to-Copley (now $1.25): $.80
Sallee, I haven’t seen any traffic estimates from MassDOT, so we’re left guessing what the impact would be, but it seems like at least some downward pressure for 16 west of West Newton Square, where I’m guessing most traffic from the west ends up, also some upward pressure for 16 to the east. You’re right, it doesn’t look like that much difference in the actual cost, and with electronic tolling perhaps people will be less likely to pay attention to the dollars and cents anyway? More important is the fact that the queues for the toll plazas will be gone, including the many mile backups at the Weston tolls. So hopefully there will be much more incentive for commuters to stay on the Pike and off local streets. Redesigning route 16 to reinforce this behavior could positive results.
Sallee, I haven’t seen any traffic estimates from MassDOT, so we’re left guessing what the impact would be, but it seems like at least some downward pressure for 16 west of West Newton Square, where I’m guessing most traffic from the west ends up, also some upward pressure for 16 to the east. You’re right, it doesn’t look like that much difference in the actual cost, and with electronic tolling perhaps people will be less likely to pay attention to the dollars and cents anyway? More important is the fact that the queues for the toll plazas will be gone, including the many mile backups at the Weston tolls. So hopefully there will be much more incentive for commuters to stay on the Pike and off local streets. Redesigning route 16 to reinforce this behavior could positive results.
Oops. Just realized we covered this almost 2 years ago on V14, so it’s not really news.
Oops. Just realized we covered this almost 2 years ago on V14, so it’s not really news.
Will be interesting to see the traffic impact.
For me, my incentive to get off in Weston vs Exit 17 coming home from work has decreased, so I am less likely to do that- but for getting from home in Newton Corner to West Newton (and vice-versa), I am much more likely to clog the local streets than to pay 40 cents.
Will be interesting to see the traffic impact.
For me, my incentive to get off in Weston vs Exit 17 coming home from work has decreased, so I am less likely to do that- but for getting from home in Newton Corner to West Newton (and vice-versa), I am much more likely to clog the local streets than to pay 40 cents.
Nobody likes an increase in traffic, but wouldn’t more local traffic generally be better for small local businesses?
Nobody likes an increase in traffic, but wouldn’t more local traffic generally be better for small local businesses?
The gantry between West Newton and Newton Corner will be located just to the west of Lowell Avenue.
I was initially concerned about the impact of tolls on local traffic. The purpose of the automated toll collection is to relieve traffic congestion on and around the Mass Pike at various access points, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles sitting in traffic. A lot of West Newton’s local traffic, particularly on Washington Street to the Exit 16 on ramp, is people trying to avoid the backups at the Weston tolls, more so, I believe, than the tolls themselves. With automated collection at the Weston tolls, those major backups should be dramatically reduced.
When the West Newton toll booths were demolished, I think it did encourage people to take the Pike between West Newton and Newton Corner when traffic is light. But it makes little or no sense to use the Mass Pike as a “short cut” during rush hour as well as much of the day, since the backups at the Exit 17 Newton Corner off ramp can go as much as a half mile or more. For those who are headed in town, I think people will mostly get on and off the Mass Pike as close to home as possible if the automated toll collectors can relieve the congestion. There is little advantage for someone from West Newton to head down Washington or Austin Street/Newtomville Avenue to get to Newton Corner, only to wait in traffic at the circle of death.
The gantry between West Newton and Newton Corner will be located just to the west of Lowell Avenue.
I was initially concerned about the impact of tolls on local traffic. The purpose of the automated toll collection is to relieve traffic congestion on and around the Mass Pike at various access points, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles sitting in traffic. A lot of West Newton’s local traffic, particularly on Washington Street to the Exit 16 on ramp, is people trying to avoid the backups at the Weston tolls, more so, I believe, than the tolls themselves. With automated collection at the Weston tolls, those major backups should be dramatically reduced.
When the West Newton toll booths were demolished, I think it did encourage people to take the Pike between West Newton and Newton Corner when traffic is light. But it makes little or no sense to use the Mass Pike as a “short cut” during rush hour as well as much of the day, since the backups at the Exit 17 Newton Corner off ramp can go as much as a half mile or more. For those who are headed in town, I think people will mostly get on and off the Mass Pike as close to home as possible if the automated toll collectors can relieve the congestion. There is little advantage for someone from West Newton to head down Washington or Austin Street/Newtomville Avenue to get to Newton Corner, only to wait in traffic at the circle of death.