Report finds cost-cutting move caused Easter traffic snarls on Pike

The Boston Globe ^ | April 17, 2009 | Noah Bierman

[cmj328]

The announcement will blame the intense traffic tie-ups over Easter weekend on the decision by turnpike chief Alan LeBovidge to avoid calling in overtime workers to replace sick workers, a cost-cutting measure.

...

Despite some calls for LeBovidge's resignation, he will not be quitting or be forced out, according to the administration official and LeBovidge's chief of staff, Jennifer Flagg.

[cmj328]

After a week, one of LeBovidge's toes is finally under the bus...What about the rest of him? And the $70K/year toll takers?

8 hour backups on the Pike on Easter and nobody's head is rolling. Disgusting!

[GovernmentShrinker]

This policy might make sense on ordinary days, when the number of toll takers calling in sick will be small. Doesn’t hurt to create a peer pressure effect, discouraging people from phony sick call-ins by ensuring that co-workers will have to pick up the slack. But on Easter weekend? That’s just insane. It practically encourages sick call-ins, as the sick-fakers no they won’t have to face co-workers whose Easter weekend plans were decimated by being called in to work to fill in for somebody faking sickness.

[Melinda]

Shows why the Globe is going down. If they were smarter, they’d report the TRUTH now and then, in this case being that hack salaries, lousy management and zip leadership caused this mess.

[angkor]

I drove the Pike every workday for 4 to 5 years.

What’s so darned difficult about collecting tolls on a road that runs straight as an arrow for 50 miles right into the heart of Boston?

You put your hand out and collect money.

Is that rocket science?

[theDentist]

Thanks turnpike chief A$$hat LeBovidge. FU.

[Maceman]

What’s so darned difficult about collecting tolls on a road that runs straight as an arrow for 50 miles right into the heart of Boston? You put your hand out and collect money. Is that rocket science?

Well, you do have to make change sometimes.

[Gorzaloon]

What’s so darned difficult about collecting tolls on a road that runs straight as an arrow for 50 miles right into the heart of Boston? You put your hand out and collect money. Is that rocket science?

Well, you do have to make change sometimes.

Oh, Calculus!!

[Chode]

thank you...

[oh8eleven]

End the tolls - end of problem.

[VeniVidiVici]

Eight hours? I think I would have just run them.

If they are understaffed on a day they should open the roads - no tolls.

[Cincinnatus]

Ah! This story explains the signs every twenty feet advising everyone how to get the transponders that race you through the toll booth (I use my NY EZPASS), in anticipation of another nightmare: this is Patriot’s Day weekend.

My daughter goes to school in Boston, so we drive the Pike end to end. Thanksgiving weekend it took 6 1/2 hours from portal to portal. Last night I did it in 2:55. When the delays are artificial it raises the blood pressure substantially, I’ll tell ya.

The goal is clearly to get people to stop using the toll booths. The transponders are free. That sounds like a win/win for everybody.

[The Electrician]

the decision by turnpike chief Alan LeBovidge to avoid calling in overtime workers to replace sick workers

You can tell that the Boston Globe is in serious financial trouble.

Clearly they were forced to eliminate the double quotes around the word "sick" as a cost-cutting measure...