All Electronic Tolling
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 129
All Electronic Tolling
Hi,
I am flying into BOS for a week on Nov 7, and intend to pick up a rental from Logan. I just read that All Electronic Tolling will be introduced from Oct 28. Does that mean that I will now need to get the transponder together with my rental car?
On a separate note, I am staying at Back Bay, and for a few days of the week, I will need to drive to Burlington (MA, not VT) in the mornings (around 7+) and return in the evenings (around 5+). Which is the best route for me to take?
Thanks!
I am flying into BOS for a week on Nov 7, and intend to pick up a rental from Logan. I just read that All Electronic Tolling will be introduced from Oct 28. Does that mean that I will now need to get the transponder together with my rental car?
On a separate note, I am staying at Back Bay, and for a few days of the week, I will need to drive to Burlington (MA, not VT) in the mornings (around 7+) and return in the evenings (around 5+). Which is the best route for me to take?
Thanks!
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Million Miler, Mosaic, Delta Platinum
Posts: 1,561
Hi,
I am flying into BOS for a week on Nov 7, and intend to pick up a rental from Logan. I just read that All Electronic Tolling will be introduced from Oct 28. Does that mean that I will now need to get the transponder together with my rental car?
On a separate note, I am staying at Back Bay, and for a few days of the week, I will need to drive to Burlington (MA, not VT) in the mornings (around 7+) and return in the evenings (around 5+). Which is the best route for me to take?
Thanks!
I am flying into BOS for a week on Nov 7, and intend to pick up a rental from Logan. I just read that All Electronic Tolling will be introduced from Oct 28. Does that mean that I will now need to get the transponder together with my rental car?
On a separate note, I am staying at Back Bay, and for a few days of the week, I will need to drive to Burlington (MA, not VT) in the mornings (around 7+) and return in the evenings (around 5+). Which is the best route for me to take?
Thanks!
As to the tolling, I know that when I'm in San Francisco and have a rental car, I usually just get a bill for tolls from the rental car company a few weeks after I went over the bridge. Imagine it will be the same in Boston. You can probably save a few bucks by renting a car downtown and then you wouldn't face any tolls going to Burlington.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Yes, you either need to get the toll pass or pay the excess fee (which can be quite pricey depending upon which company) when they eventually bill you for it.
If you are staying in Back Bay, I would HIGHLY recommend not renting a car the whole time - parking around there is a pain in the neck and very, very pricey. If you absolutely need a car, rent it from a local place around the hotel, and only for the days you absolutely need it. The best route depends on where you are going. Easiest would be the pike out to 128 (er, 95) and then north on 95.
If you are staying in Back Bay, I would HIGHLY recommend not renting a car the whole time - parking around there is a pain in the neck and very, very pricey. If you absolutely need a car, rent it from a local place around the hotel, and only for the days you absolutely need it. The best route depends on where you are going. Easiest would be the pike out to 128 (er, 95) and then north on 95.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
Programs: Loyal Order of Water Buffalos
Posts: 3,937
I'd get an EZ Pass from MA now. You can get one online. There have been reports of large convenience fees from the rental car companies for their handling of the toll charges on your behalf.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
I agree, but part of the problem here is that "Back Bay" covers a good-sized area and it can take a while to get from one side to the other during rush hour. Personally, if I'm near Storrow Drive, I'd take Yahtzee's directions in post #2, but if I'm near the turnpike entrance off Huntington just west of Dartmouth St., I'd take Cloudship's in post #3. Part of it is that I prefer highway to city driving, so I like to get on the nearest highway, plus I have an EZ-Pass transponder. YMMV.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 129
Thanks for all the responses. I'm actually staying at the Westin Copley Place, and I think there's an entrance to the pike just in front? So I guess getting onto the pike and then north on 95 is the way to go?
As for the EZ-Pass transponder, I assume I have to get it together with the car from the rental company? Or is there another way? I'm planning to rent from National, and I see they want to charge me $3.95 / Day for the transponder.
As for the EZ-Pass transponder, I assume I have to get it together with the car from the rental company? Or is there another way? I'm planning to rent from National, and I see they want to charge me $3.95 / Day for the transponder.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
What state are you coming from? EZ Pass is available throughout much of the northeast.
As an aside, and to hijack the thread, does anyone else see that this may be a big disaster? This is going to have a big impact on tourism for the rest of the state.
As an aside, and to hijack the thread, does anyone else see that this may be a big disaster? This is going to have a big impact on tourism for the rest of the state.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Formerly Box 350, Boston Mass, Oh two one three four. Now near Beverly Hills 90210
Programs: Loyal Order of Water Buffalos
Posts: 3,937
Here is where to get it
https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/high...MAProgram.aspx
What kind of disaster, Cloudship? Other locales have gone cash-free already
https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/high...MAProgram.aspx
What kind of disaster, Cloudship? Other locales have gone cash-free already
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Here is where to get it
https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/high...MAProgram.aspx
What kind of disaster, Cloudship? Other locales have gone cash-free already
https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/high...MAProgram.aspx
What kind of disaster, Cloudship? Other locales have gone cash-free already
As for the disaster, Unlike most locations, we will not have a cash lane where a traveler without a pass can pay, or even a way to prepay (ala California). And here, you HAVE to use the toll to even get out of the airport via either tunnel or the bridge. And to go west of Boston, again unless you know the back roads and are willing to drive city streets, you end up having to go through tolls. The disaster is that now anyone either visiting someone, tourists venturing out of the city, or business people visiting customers or offices out of the city, now add a $5 a day to their trip across the board, because you have to pay for the toll pass for every day, not just when you use it. And, for those tourists who don't know this or how toll passes work, and we know how great a job the rental agencies do about telling people information up front, they are going to get hit with high penalties. Dollar and Thrifty charge $15 a day if you don't sign up ahead of time! Then again, most people forget there is life outside of 128.
#13
Ambassador, New England
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Maineiac, USA
Programs: Amtrak, WN RR, Choice
Posts: 2,655
There is one way to get out of the airport without paying a toll, but it's only useful if you're headed North, as it's a huge pain to go anywhere else: Route 1A North toward Revere does not have tolls.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
It didn't seem to affect Florida tourism much, and their transponders aren't useful anywhere else.
Last edited by Efrem; Sep 20, 2016 at 6:30 am Reason: Remove irrelevant parts of quoted post