Politicians mull raiding Tolls Roads to possibly support SunRail (Miami: college, income)

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

I've got a better idea... how about we actually hand the money back to the drivers who actually paid the tolls in the first place via lower rates?

That's my sentiment.
Reduce the rates via the monthly, if not annual, discounts.

There's no reason to overcharge for the roads, and no reason to give drivers money away.
Save a little for a rainy day fund and refund drives for their (evidentially) over priced roads.

Why should drivers pay more than 100% for their road services when Rail Riders are paying less than 20%? What nonsense is that?

[annerk]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

I've got a better idea... how about we actually hand the money back to the drivers who actually paid the tolls in the first place via lower rates?

[annerk]

Originally Posted by WithDisp

That's my sentiment.
Reduce the rates via the monthly, if not annual, discounts.

There's no reason to overcharge for the roads, and no reason to give drivers money away.
Save a little for a rainy day fund and refund drives for their (evidentially) over priced roads.

Why should drivers pay more than 100% for their road services when Rail Riders are paying less than 20%? What nonsense is that?

Exactly. The people riding Sunrail are for the most part higher income earners living in expensive suburban areas. Why should those of us who have NO mass transit service available to use be subsidizing the 10%-ers?

[Bobdreamz]

Originally Posted by chopchop0

I've got a better idea... how about we actually hand the money back to the drivers who actually paid the tolls in the first place via lower rates?

Except that is never going to happen. In Miami they have MDX which is the equal to the Expressway Authority here in Orlando. They are a cash cow bringing in tens of millions of dollars and are always starting a new project and yet traffic is still horrible so there has been talk recently of having MDX share it's revenue with our transit agency to expand Metrorail.
Orlando needs better mass transit as it continues to grow and it needs a dedicated funding source like an increase in the sales tax like Miami has had since 2002. Increase the sales tax by 1/2 a penny and dedicate it solely for mass transit.

[WithDisp]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

Orlando needs better mass transit as it continues to grow and it needs a dedicated funding source like an increase in the sales tax like Miami has had since 2002. Increase the sales tax by 1/2 a penny and dedicate it solely for mass transit.

The Toll Road Model works very well for the CFX.
Build roads, charge drivers, earn profit. Need new roads, raise the tolls.

Use the same model for the SunRail.
Raise fares if you need expansion.

SunRail's fares are far too low to sustain themselves.
SunRail's ridership is far too low to justify or get the voters to approve tax increases.


Orlando does NOT need better mass transit to grow. The city is sprawled out, and it's too late to change that now. Mass Transit would be a wonderful thing to have, but the system they started with is absurdly useless.

[JMatl]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

Except that is never going to happen. In Miami they have MDX which is the equal to the Expressway Authority here in Orlando. They are a cash cow bringing in tens of millions of dollars and are always starting a new project and yet traffic is still horrible so there has been talk recently of having MDX share it's revenue with our transit agency to expand Metrorail.
Orlando needs better mass transit as it continues to grow and it needs a dedicated funding source like an increase in the sales tax like Miami has had since 2002. Increase the sales tax by 1/2 a penny and dedicate it solely for mass transit.

After living and working against your will in Orlando it would seem that you would have figured out by now that Orlando ISN'T Miami, and has no desire to be.

A different model and formula is needed here, and it isn't the Miami 'model.'

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

Except that is never going to happen. In Miami they have MDX which is the equal to the Expressway Authority here in Orlando. They are a cash cow bringing in tens of millions of dollars and are always starting a new project and yet traffic is still horrible so there has been talk recently of having MDX share it's revenue with our transit agency to expand Metrorail.
Orlando needs better mass transit as it continues to grow and it needs a dedicated funding source like an increase in the sales tax like Miami has had since 2002. Increase the sales tax by 1/2 a penny and dedicate it solely for mass transit.

The people that use mass transit should pay for mass transit.

The people that use toll roads should pay tolls on those roads.

Seems fair to me

[Anna Moose]

Wouldn't the most logical thing to do with the extra money be to pay off some of the massive debt the authority has a bit sooner? Or because the line of credit is available, we should keep using it I guess.

[Bobdreamz]

Originally Posted by JMatl

After living and working against your will in Orlando it would seem that you would have figured out by now that Orlando ISN'T Miami, and has no desire to be.

A different model and formula is needed here, and it isn't the Miami 'model.'

Are you stalking me? For somebody who lives in Atlanta you seem to show up a lot on the Florida forums. Why do you need to address my personal life on a public forum that has nothing to do with the issue at hand??

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Bobdreamz

Except that is never going to happen. In Miami they have MDX which is the equal to the Expressway Authority here in Orlando. They are a cash cow bringing in tens of millions of dollars and are always starting a new project and yet traffic is still horrible so there has been talk recently of having MDX share it's revenue with our transit agency to expand Metrorail.
Orlando needs better mass transit as it continues to grow and it needs a dedicated funding source like an increase in the sales tax like Miami has had since 2002. Increase the sales tax by 1/2 a penny and dedicate it solely for mass transit.

One more reason for me to try to spend my money in Lake County these days instead of Orange.