Cape Politics

Christy responds to Mass. Pike resignation

Mass. Turnpike chief quits under criticism

Boston Globe; Massachusetts Turnpike Director Alan LeBovidge resigned on Wednesday, a month after he was widely criticized for a pair of cost-cutting moves he nonetheless felt were necessary for the financially ailing authority. In a tart resignation letter, he recounted being hired by Gov. Deval Patrick to institute "reform before revenue."  LeBovidge wrote, "However, the last two months have made it clear to me that the basic operating premise has shifted."

The director was criticized for shutting off the blue lights on the Zakim Bridge, one of the Boston's signature spans, to save the $5,000 monthly electricity bill. He also sparked motorist outrage for massive Easter Sunday traffic backups after deciding not to use overtime to replace tolltakers who called in sick for the holiday.

In the aftermath of the moves, the famously blunt-speaking LeBovidge was unapologetic. "Sometimes you have to grin and bear it," he told reporters amid the public outcry over the Easter backups. "You know, if you don't have money, you can't buy food, and you have to go hungry sometimes"... The Turnpike faces $2.2 billion in long-term debts from inheriting the Big Dig construction project. It also has an operating deficit this year...

WCVB: In a letter to state transportation chief James Aloisi, LeBovidge said that his original mission of streamlining the turnpike authority had been changed in recent months, and he said a call to institute reforms was no longer the priority of the administration.

"My charge, from the Board and the Governor, was to right the ship operationally and to do everything possible to institute reforms and to focus on cost reductions," said LeBovidge in the resignation letter. "I've devoted the last seventeen months to following this charge. However, the last two months have made it clear to me that the basic operating premise has shifted"...