WESTON, MASS. (WHDH) - All-electronic tolling is going live this week in Massachusetts, with the demolition of the old toll booths set to begin soon.
Twenty-three locations from the New York border in western Massachusetts to downtown Boston will now have gantrys over the road. Stephen Collins, the Massdot Director of Tolling, said the gantry takes an image of a vehicle’s licese plate and will bill the driver or their account, if they have a transponder like E-ZPass.
Massdot said the change will improve air quality, reduce congestion and improve public safety. Transportation officials said many crashes happen at toll facilities because the traffic is slow and many vehicles are merging or cutting into lanes.
The new system starts to go live Friday night and the old toll booths will be dismantled. Construction is scheduled to last until the end of 2017 and drivers are being asked to plan accordingly and be safe.
Collins said around 500 toll collectors are being affected by the switch. The workers are being offered different job options but Collins said between 200 and 250 will be laid off.
For more information on how to get an E-ZPass, click here.
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