Council rejects study of new city tolls but asks mayor to seek reduced state toll rate for residents

The Revere City Council held an extended debate about tolling city roads as a way to curb cut-through traffic and raise revenue. Councilors split on feasibility, fairness and whether the city could realistically obtain lasting revenue from local tolls.

Councilors Cogliandro and McKenna presented a motion to begin a formal study on the feasibility of implementing tolls on certain city roads. Supporters said tolls could reduce traffic and generate revenue for infrastructure; opponents warned MassDOT would likely dismiss local toll proposals and that the state would retain most revenue.

After lengthy discussion, the council conducted a roll call and the motion to study implementing new tolls failed. Later in the meeting, Council President Silvestri offered a separate verbal motion asking the mayor to open discussions with the state legislature and MassDOT to secure reduced toll rates or other toll-related benefits for Revere residents (similar to programs in Chelsea and East Boston). The council approved that verbal motion by roll call.

Councilors noted the difference between creating new tolls (a local infrastructure and legal challenge) and requesting that the state provide residents a reduced toll rate for existing state-operated crossings. Several councilors emphasized that residents and commuters on Revere streets face congestion from through traffic and that the city lacks sufficient state support for infrastructure maintenance.