GA 400 tolling may continue past the scheduled date (Atlanta, Forsyth: maintenance, costs)

[toll_booth]

Ga. 400 toll may not expire as promised *| ajc.com

The tolls were set to expire in June 2011, but now they may be extended, supposedly to pay for future projects such as completion of the 85-400 interchange.

(and yes, I know it's somewhat of a joke that, given my screen name, I am talking about toll booths )

[ATL Golfer]

I think we all accepted the fact that they would never be removed once they were inserted. To think otherwise would not be prudent.

[atlantagreg30127]

I come from an area where tolls are a daily thing you deal with, but I've always found it humorous how people thought they'd end the tolls on 400. GA400 is a heavily used road that constantly requires maintenance. If the tolls are removed, then maintenance money comes out of the regular DOT funds (which are low to nearly non-existent these days). Yes, they need to closely monitor exactly where the toll money is going, but tolls are in some cases, a necessity if you want roads where you want them - and you want them maintained.

[SmellsTheRat]

I am curious to see what the maintenance costs will be projected per car. Like a total in football. GA 400 vs. the cars .50. I'll bet the over when it is all said and done due to the fact that the word "maintenance" will be very broadly applied regardless of the oversight. Just my .02...or in this case over .50.

[arjay57]

They should keep the tolls in place but be sure they use the money for GA 400, and not siphon it off to other projects. At the very least they need to complete the unfinished interchange at I-85. It's ridiculous that one of the busiest intersections in the state remains only half-built after all these years.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by arjay57

They should keep the tolls in place but be sure they use the money for GA 400, and not siphon it off to other projects. At the very least they need to complete the unfinished interchange at I-85. It's ridiculous that one of the busiest intersections in the state remains only half-built after all these years.

Agreed; I don't mind the toll if it would mean implementing a ramp off I-85 South to 400 North. The current situation of diverting the traffic onto Cheshire Bridge/Sidney Marcus is ridiculous.

[mike7586]

One thing people don't realize is that if they remove the toll, traffic on that stretch of 400 will increase even more. Also, if they use the tolls for improvements to the road, like the interchange at 85 and 285 and maybe widening the road in Forsyth County, I don't see the big deal about keeping the tolls.

[SW30303]

With revenues down, the economy down and thus the state budget itself, the DOT definitely does not want to retire this cash cow. I believe I read somewhere that the 400 toll generates about 20 million a year or so, not chump change for the DOT or any government. The toll will stay in place for a long time coming along with more toll roads in the Atlanta area being set up so that traffic congestion might get some "relief" during rush hour.

mike7586 wrote:

One thing people don't realize is that if they remove the toll, traffic on that stretch of 400 will increase even more.

400 is a bear to deal with in rush hour, so yes, you make a very strong argument on that one.

[flyonpa]

The tolls spin off about 4M in 'profit' a year (after the inflated costs to collect the 50cents & maint of the road and the bonds). The toll do next to nothing to stop/prevent congestion. With PeachPass they get you money with out you slowing down. I would like to see the i85 interchange done, but I would like to see a end to the tolls, Not in 5 years later when thats pay'ed for, hey we found something else to spend money one.

[ATL Golfer]

Originally Posted by mike7586

One thing people don't realize is that if they remove the toll, traffic on that stretch of 400 will increase even more. Also, if they use the tolls for improvements to the road, like the interchange at 85 and 285 and maybe widening the road in Forsyth County, I don't see the big deal about keeping the tolls.

I hardly expect to see a spike in traffic because people don't have to dig into their change jar.


Question, what is left to do on the 85 interchange? Make it so the lanes don't merge so quickly?

$4MM in profit? So are you saying they have savings of like $50MM+?