Public Meetings To Discuss Toll Booth Demolition Planned

BOSTON (AP) — The state Transportation Department has scheduled two more public meetings to discuss the demolition of toll plazas once the Massachusetts Turnpike transitions to all-electronic tolling.

The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday at Westborough Town Hall, and Wednesday at WGBH headquarters in Brighton. Both start at 6:30 p.m.

State officials will discuss the demolition process, timeline, hours of construction operations, traffic and noise impacts, material disposition and other related issues.

Under the new system that goes into effect Oct. 28, gantries that span the 138-mile stretch of Interstate 90 will electronically charge vehicles with E-ZPass transponders without requiring them to stop or slow down.

The system also takes pictures of license plates so drivers without transponders can be sent a bill.

Under the system, some drivers will pay more, some less.