Toll lanes on area interstates???? (Tampa: maintenance, price, moving)

[Tim Tim Tim]

If they were just adding lanes that we had to pay for I would be down, but to pull one of our lanes away and charge us to ride on it is wrong (which is likely what will be done). If they were to put a crosstown style upper deck on 275 or something I would be ok with that and would be willing to pay as it would actually alleviate traffic.

[jaybird45]

Originally Posted by Tim Tim Tim

If they were just adding lanes that we had to pay for I would be down, but to pull one of our lanes away and charge us to ride on it is wrong (which is likely what will be done). If they were to put a crosstown style upper deck on 275 or something I would be ok with that and would be willing to pay as it would actually alleviate traffic.

Any lanes that are now free will stay free. According to FL law, if an existing lane was not tolled on July 1, 2012, it can not be tolled unless the law is changed. Tolls can only be applied to new lanes or lanes that had tolls on them before that date. This is the law as written (2012 Florida statue 338.151)

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by Tim Tim Tim

If they were just adding lanes that we had to pay for I would be down, but to pull one of our lanes away and charge us to ride on it is wrong (which is likely what will be done). If they were to put a crosstown style upper deck on 275 or something I would be ok with that and would be willing to pay as it would actually alleviate traffic.

same here - if you can cut down your drive time by 20-30 mins, what is your time worth? $10? For a person who makes $100+/hr as a lawyer, doctor, or whatever....time is money......

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by BucFan

I've been very happy with the Sun Pass system where they're able to track your use without stopping at a toll booth.....last time I drove around Orlando on the toll system, I recall that my Sun Pass system worked - I don't remember stopping and paying there.

We used a different car and forgot to take our Sun pass BUT we noticed that where we were driving it was all Epass or something like that so Sun Pass wouldn't have worked. it was like every few minutes driving to the right side and paying again. $ 2.25, than $ 1.25 a few times, etc.

[DUNNDFRNT]

Sunpass works with Epass.
People making $100 an hour don't live an hour from where they work especially not in Tampa. In general terms of course.

[roadtrip75]

Originally Posted by BucFan

For a person who makes $100+/hr as a lawyer, doctor, or whatever....time is money......

I don't think those people should be given preferential treatment.

Originally Posted by jaybird45

Tolls can only be applied to new lanes or lanes that had tolls on them before that date.

But even that shouldn't be allowed. If they want to use a toll to pay for a new road, that might be acceptable. But that isn't what the law says. The law allows them to keep tolling even after the construction bond is paid off. They'll just keep pocketing the money as long as their apologists allow them to.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by roadtrip75

I don't think those people should be given preferential treatment.



But even that shouldn't be allowed. If they want to use a toll to pay for a new road, that might be acceptable. But that isn't what the law says. The law allows them to keep tolling even after the construction bond is paid off. They'll just keep pocketing the money as long as their apologists allow them to.

You miss the point. What is the preferential treatment? They pay the toll.

My point was that for someone who makes a ton, paying the toll isn't an issue and worth it to them. Can't afford the toll, don't use the lane.

[The Villages Guy]

If they ADD a lane and pay for it with TOLLS in the end, I am all for it.

[gjosephunf]

This is a multi billion dollar project which will take 10-20 years to complete. Political ideology in Tallahassee is giving us sub par opportunities for transit, while Orlando has chased/received true transportation goals for the 21st century.

$1 billion to add express lanes from Westshore to Ybor.
$5 billion to add throughout Tampa Bay region.

We will pay for this in one way or another. I personally think certain segments of the freeway could use additional lanes. However the whole idea of this alleviating our traffic woe's is a flat out lie.

We need a comprehensive transportation system (bus, ferry, rail, roads).

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[Tim Tim Tim]

I don't care as much for the public transit, I'm sure I would use it once in a while if it was here but certainly wouldnt rely on it for day to day use. I would however love a fast lane to get to work so im not sitting in traffic for an hour when the commute could be 30 minutes.