In the back of a pickup, no less.

This is how entrenched bureaucracies threaten public policy. Mass Pike usage drops by 3.5% in May without any change in tolls and the Turnpike authority responds with concern about authority revenues.

Here's the appropriate response:

1. Express elation with the drop in driving
2. Demand that state subsidy shift towards the growing MBTA ridership (up 5.3% in May)
3. Increase tolls to encourage greater shift to transit

Ten current and former toll collectors at the Ted Williams and Callahan tunnels were charged today with stealing toll money from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, which owns the tunnels.

Suffolk County DA Dan Conley says the most common scheme involved taking advantage of the different tolls charged to commercial vehicles and ordinary passenger cars:

As vehicles pass through the tolls, the collector is supposed to hit a switch indicating the type of vehicle passing through and collect the appropriate fare. In most of these instances we've charged, toll collectors would classify some of the taxi cabs or other commercial vehicles as ordinary vehicles, but charge the drivers the higher toll rate and pocket the difference.

Another scheme involved toll collectors manipulating the timing switch used to count cars so that two vehicles would be counted as one. Again, the toll was collected from the uncounted vehicle but pocketed by the toll collector. The dollars stolen from the Turnpike by misclassifying or miscounting vehicles could range anywhere from $20 to $150 per toll collector, per shift, and amount to thousands of dollars.

State Police began their investigation last October. The ten were issued summons to appear in Boston Municipal Court to answer the charges.

Carumba!

Those darn truck rollovers.

Eeka discovers toll takers at the Allston/Cambridge exit on the turnpike have an interesting way of addressing each other.

The South End News explains all the financial folderol about the $800-million Columbus Center project you may have seen over the weekend: The project could be pining for the fjords:

"While we still kind of have hopes for the project," [Turnpike Authority spokesman Mac Daniel] said, "it looks like it's being put on hold."

Like, for at least 18 months. The turnpike authority is involved because the luxo-condo project would sit on a deck atop the Mass. Pike.

Overturned tractor trailer causes seven-mile backup, eastbound in Hopkinton.

Train Rider: Now today is one of those days that I was actually happy to be taking the commuter rail to work instead of the Mass Pike.

The authority gambled on interest rates and lost, and now it could be out several million dollars.

Hmm, sounds familiar.

Not that that stopped the guy who tied up traffic Tuesday:

... In a video released by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Thursday, the flatbed truck carrying a crane is seen heading into the Ted Williams Tunnel. It triggered the overheight sensors and the warning sign before the tunnel's entrance, but the driver didn't stop. ...