Make Interstate 95 in Rhode Island a Toll Road (Providence: construction, DMV)
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It would follow from your claim that in order for public transportation to be more environmentally friendly more people should use public transport to ensure transit runs at capacity. If transit doesn't run at capacity more people need to be persuaded to use it.
However, I cordially invite you to take any commuter train from Providence to Boston, for example, in the morning and evening hours and see for yourself that these trains run at capacity.
Exactly. I have taken the commuter trains when they were at capacity, but seldom see a full bus. And the commuter trains don't run at capacity other than at rush hour. It was an interesting article, but damned if I can find it.
Alfie, not sure about bus capacities, but they used 70 in the article.. I have to go find it.
And I am all for public transportation, as long as it is efficient. I never liked the central-hub approach that RI has. And the heat here precludes many people from using it to its potential. No one wants to sit at a bus stop for 15 minutes in 115 degree heat in the summer. And the monorail is more of a tourist attraction, as it doesn't even go to the airport.
I agree about high-speed rail. Much prefer that from Prov to NY than driving through god-forsaken CT on I-95!
Similar.. But captures the gist. Full buses = good. Empty buses driving around = bad.
I'm only speaking anecdotally but I see a lot of buses quite full. I'm most familiar with the #14, the #92 and the #31, but I do walk through KP (lucky me) a good deal and I see lines of people boarding buses. Plus, let's not forget that buses pick up and drop of passengers along their routes, which affects total ridership per trip. Do you have any data to suggest RIPTA is riding on empty?
OK, but you didn't say any of that. You said we need to "cut welfare"....and I was just pointing out that we already did that, and it doesn't actually fix anything unless decreasing revenues and starving citizens is your solitary goal. (Speaking strictly economically here.) Of course you've also espoused that New Yorkers and people from Connecticut gravitate here for our generous welfare, which is flat out false - since they actually have more substantial social programs than we do.
In terms of lower than average returns you'd have to post data on that. (And please, not data more than three or four years old.) All the date I've seen consistently puts us in intermediate to positive territory in most categories, nationally.
RI is tied with NJ on the "Hourly Wage Equivalent"and less than $1 below NY for its welfare recipients. The cost of living in RI is significantly lower than both of those states, making the move worthwhile for many.
Now please post data on how CT and NY "actually have more substantial social programs than we do". I don't know what that is all about?
I see no reason why car drivers should get a free ride on highways. It seems to me a $4.00 each way toll on Route 95 would be a great way of raising needed revenue. That revenue could go to improve RIPTA, or, better yet, build light rail in Providence. It's time that car moochers paid their fair share!
You're suggesting that a driver would have to pay $8.00 just to drive in/out of say Providence every day?
If something like this were ever to happen, people would simply use back roads to avoid the toll. Especially if you have people coming into work in Providence from Mass or Connecticut.
You're suggesting that a driver would have to pay $8.00 just to drive in/out of say Providence every day?
If something like this were ever to happen, people would simply use back roads to avoid the toll. Especially if you have people coming into work in Providence from Mass or Connecticut.
Doesn't have to be $4, could be $2. The toll amount would be dictated by the amount of revenue the state wants to raise. I can't find figures for the number of cars that use Route 95 in Rhode Island, but the Delaware toll bridge, which charges $4 in one direction only generates $77 million per year. That kind of money would fill a lot of potholes!
As to toll-avoidance, traffic deterrence could easily be implemented.
Sorry, no free rides. Motorists, pay your fair share!
As to toll-avoidance, traffic deterrence could easily be implemented.
Please explain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlfieBoy
Sorry, no free rides. Motorists, pay your fair share!
Between the gas tax, local auto tax, DMV fees as well as the taxes everybody pays; believe me, we do!
In Providence, it is not uncommon to be paying over $1000 in auto tax on one vehicle! THEY are subsidizing YOU.
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