Don't most Austinites Oppose Toll Roads? (Houston, Dallas: school, income, tax)

[jb9152]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Back some years ago, a plan was proposed that would add a lane for a couple of miles on S. Mopac (near Wm Cannon) and make all the lanes toll because it was 'new'. I think they had one or two other places this was floated for a bit, but all were pretty much shot down due to the furor it created. I am not talking about the toll lane currently proposed on MoPac.

OK, well that's different. I get you now.

[jb9152]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

But TXDOT is getting lazy with this nutty business of adding toll lanes to existing highways, when our tax money should be used for added free lanes.

Like the Federal government, the State of Texas diverts about 35% of the gas tax revenue to non-road projects & the general fund. That's one reason our highway expansion & infrastructure maintenance has been suffering for years.

Well, you're of course correct. But that's just one, relatively minor part of the problem. The larger issue is the failure of fuel tax revenue to keep up with inflation (because it's an absolute number, and not expressed as a percentage, as are traditional sales taxes). As the price of everything goes up (and more asphalt is incrementally added), costs go up with no corresponding (or at least proportional) rise in tax revenue. Add in marginal increases in vehicle fuel efficiency, and you have a true unsustainable long-term disaster on your hands. Even if the diverted funds were dedicated solely to highways, that's a short-term solution. Lack of indexing to inflation, better mileage standards, gradual adoption of alternative power sources will eat that up sooner rather than later if we build tons of "free" lanes (which of course, are never "free" - fuel taxes and vehicle registrations, etc. only cover about 50% of the total cost of "free" roads). "Free" lanes have to be maintained just like tolled lanes. The more you add, the more you add to your bills.

The analogy I like to use is that of a homeowner who is paying all of the traditional home-related expenses - debt, utilities, and so forth - and is contemplating adding a new addition to the home in 2013, but with a paycheck that's indexed to 1992 cost of living. It's just unsustainable (and I don't mean that in the touchy-feely, environmental way).

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

I agree with that.

SH45 & 130 have been a huge convenience for us - even though we only use them maybe 2 or 3 times a week.

But TXDOT is getting lazy with this nutty business of adding toll lanes to existing highways, when our tax money should be used for added free lanes.

Like the Federal government, the State of Texas diverts about 35% of the gas tax revenue to non-road projects & the general fund. That's one reason our highway expansion & infrastructure maintenance has been suffering for years.

I agree with this. Im in favor of toll roads, but we are also paying gas taxes. The areas that scream the loudest get the lions share of gas taxes (I have no idea if it is us or not). We should get our proper share of the gas taxes and then I would be fine to use toll roads for the rest.

[johnrex62]

Originally Posted by Austin97

I like toll roads and am ok with turning existing roads into toll roads.

I think you meant to type TROLL roads. Right?

[Komeht]

Roads continue to incur costs long after they are built. The older the road the hire the cost to maintain. I'm in favor of tolling all roads anyways - user pays. No problem with converting older roads to be tolled.

[Gorfml]

U would...

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by Gorfml

U would...

They are...

[Komeht]

I do. . .

[Newbe10]

Originally Posted by Komeht

Roads continue to incur costs long after they are built. The older the road the hire the cost to maintain. I'm in favor of tolling all roads anyways - user pays. No problem with converting older roads to be tolled.

Oh really?? well too bad that the vast majority of Texans and motorist throughout the country don't think like you. It is criminal to impose tolls on limited access routes that are already free and paid for. If you don't think so then there must be something really wrong with you.

If all roads were tolled, the cost of goods in all types of stores would be significantly higher. You must be one of those rich people who doesn't care about anyone but themselves.

[Newbe10]

Originally Posted by Komeht

Roads continue to incur costs long after they are built. The older the road the hire the cost to maintain. I'm in favor of tolling all roads anyways - user pays. No problem with converting older roads to be tolled.

Yeah, but imposing a toll on existing roads is criminal. The state legislature and the corrupt TXDOT should never be diverting funds away from the transportation department in the first place. In a state as big as Texas, transportation infrastructure should be a top priority, not the fattining of pockets of bureaucrats in Austin and at TXDOT. Toll roads, at least in Texas, are nothing but an example of corruption by state officials.