Commuters who drive over the Tobin Bridge could get a 50-cent discount on anew $3 toll proposal the Massport board of directors is expected to vote on this morning.

The discount would be available only to drivers enrolled in FastLane,
Massport's automatic toll collection program. All other commuters will have to pay $3 to drive across the Tobin, a major point of entry to Boston from the North Shore. It now costs $2 for southbound commuters; there is no fee for northbound traffic. The board meets at 10 a.m. today in East Boston, a spokeswoman said.

The 50-cent discount is a compromise between Massport and legislators from the North Shore and Merrimack Valley, who argued the $1 toll increase amounted to little more than a tax on commuters to help Massport pay its share of the $14.6 billion Big Dig transportation project.

Area legislators asked Massport to freeze tolls at $2 for Fast-Lane users.

Massport countered with a 50-cent discount, said Frederick E. Berry of
Peabody, the Senate majority leader.

"They threw us a little bone, which I appreciate," Berry said in an
interview Monday, after Massport presented the discount plan to area
legislators. "I think they realized the commitment we had to this, and the level of frustration that we felt, as a delegation."

State Senator Thomas M. McGee, a Lynn Democrat who heads the Northeast
Legislative Caucus, thinks Massport will approve the discount. "We're pretty hopeful that the message we've sent to them is starting to resonate," said McGee, who along with Berry organized boycotts of public hearings Massport held on the toll hikes late last year. "What we were looking for is fairness. This is a step in that direction."

Georgeane Tacelli, a Massport spokeswoman, called the 50-cent reduction a fair compromise. "We really value the public process," Tacelli said. "We took the feedback from the public hearings and the legislative delegation. We understood this was an important issue for them."

If approved, the toll increase would take effect April 4. The $31 million in Tobin toll revenue estimated for fiscal 2005 will be used to fund Massport's share of the Big Dig, and on maintenance and repairs to the 2-mile bridge, Tacelli said.

Commuter Kevin Donaher of Swampscott, a FastLane user, said he hopes
Massport approves the discount -- and makes more improvements to the Tobin.

"I suppose the 50-cent reduction is better than nothing," said Donaher,
whose wife, Karen, also commutes over the Tobin each day. "But I'd still like to see some improvements done to the roads on the bridge. They're in tough shape."

Donaher also worries about Massport raising tolls down the road. "It's good that they're [considering] this discount," he said. "It will help me, but I still worry if, later on, if in another year or so, they won't go up another $1 or $1.50."

Tacelli said there are no additional toll increases planned. Massport
already raised parking fees at Logan Airport and is considering raising fees on taxis and limousines operating from the airport. "We are always looking to find new sources of revenue," she said.

Legislators hope Massport won't look to commuters for any more revenues.

Unhappy that a toll study released last month contained few alternatives to toll hikes, Berry and McGee said they'll push for a statewide gas tax and other measures to ease the cost of commuting to Boston from the North Shore.

"To me, a gas tax is the fairest way to go," Berry said. "That way the
burden of maintaining our roads and bridges is spread more evenly around the state."

"I was disappointed the study did not suggest any real alternatives," McGee said. "The study wasn't done to have them say 'We agree with these,' but it could have outlined some options. We were looking for guidance. They [Massport] have to come up with a better way to pay for the Big Dig."