What should be HOV lanes on Mopac will be Toll Roads (Austin: tax, buses)

[orbius]

The way they handled this is utterly disgraceful as well. No public discourse just have some lame 'ground breaking' ceremony/photo-op.

Moderator cut: see comment, substitute "No one should vote" for Perry after seeing how he has allowed agencies like Txdot run wild on the citizens of the state Moderator cut: see comment

[jobert]

The only reason we even have tollroads is to service people who made the decision to live in the exurbs, and they are the ones who are now getting screwed for it. If you don't like tollroads, don't drive on them. I have driven on only one tollroad since I moved here over two years ago, and that was out of sheer curiousity.

[hoffdano]

I have not concluded yet whether this move is as stupid as Orbius says or whether it might not be such a bad idea.

First of all they are not taking a lane away. The new toll lane is achieved by restriping the road. Where there are three lanes today there will be four. Those who want to drive faster in traffic can pay for the privilege. These drivers will free up capacity in the remaining non-toll lanes, which might ease congestion for the non-toll-paying people.

The idea takes advantage of the idea that some people will volunteer to pay extra. Maybe they are rich. Maybe they just like to save time and it is worth a bit of money.

If my drive is better and I see someone paying a toll - I don't think I will be so upset. I might instead say "thanks for paying more money to drive on the same road I drive for free."

But maybe it something else entirely. I am not sure yet.

[orbius]

So the people who pay the bulk of the tax designed to build roads, will be happy while stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the non-toll road part of Mopac. These people will look over at the road they helped pay for where cars paying $5 to drive congestion free are whizzing by and will say 'thanks for paying more to drive on the road I'm stuck on'.

Come on get real thats an insult to anyone with a mind of their own.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by jobert

The only reason we even have tollroads is to service people who made the decision to live in the exurbs, and they are the ones who are now getting screwed for it. If you don't like tollroads, don't drive on them. I have driven on only one tollroad since I moved here over two years ago, and that was out of sheer curiousity.

I tried to change my post after I realized that I probably insulted most everyone in NW Austin. Oh well.

Orbius, you seem to think that everyone's out to rip you off. Do you use Mopac?

[orbius]

Originally Posted by jobert

I tried to change my post after I realized that I probably insulted most everyone in NW Austin. Oh well.

Orbius, you seem to think that everyone's out to rip you off. Do you use Mopac?

You're right I do think its a rip off that the taxpayers of Texas pay millions and millions in taxes designed to build roads and then are expected to pay out of their own pocket to drive on a lane addition to an existing highway.
Give me another road scenario and I'll give you my opinion of whether I consider it a rip off or not. I highly doubt I think that 'everyone' is out to rip me off.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by SickOfCalifornia

What's wrong with paying for a convenience? There is no obligation to pay, but if you want to, you have the choice and you arguably get something valuable for your money. I'm all for it.

Are you kidding? This is nothing more than (another) flagrant money grab by CAMPO and TxDOT. Mopac has been around for 40 years- why toll now? Just wait until all the people who live around the area from 2222 to the river realize that all that traffic is going to go right through their neighborhood streets. Leave it alone, I say.

[mezman]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I have not concluded yet whether this move is as stupid as Orbius says or whether it might not be such a bad idea.

First of all they are not taking a lane away. The new toll lane is achieved by restriping the road. Where there are three lanes today there will be four. Those who want to drive faster in traffic can pay for the privilege. These drivers will free up capacity in the remaining non-toll lanes, which might ease congestion for the non-toll-paying people.

The idea takes advantage of the idea that some people will volunteer to pay extra. Maybe they are rich. Maybe they just like to save time and it is worth a bit of money.

If my drive is better and I see someone paying a toll - I don't think I will be so upset. I might instead say "thanks for paying more money to drive on the same road I drive for free."

But maybe it something else entirely. I am not sure yet.

I was sort of thinking the same thing you were. But the more I think about it I guess the argument is that the capacity was already there (if indeed all they needed to do was restripe the road) so they should have just restriped the road and let the taxpayers who paid for the entire road use it. If the toll/managed lane was actually adding capacity that didn't exist previously (i.e. poured concrete for a new lane) then I think it's more defensible. Maybe the tolls will pay for maintenance on the new lane or something... I don't know.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by orbius

Give me another road scenario and I'll give you my opinion of whether I consider it a rip off or not. I highly doubt I think that 'everyone' is out to rip me off.

How about the four roads I listed earlier?

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

I have not concluded yet whether this move is as stupid as Orbius says or whether it might not be such a bad idea.

First of all they are not taking a lane away. The new toll lane is achieved by restriping the road. Where there are three lanes today there will be four. Those who want to drive faster in traffic can pay for the privilege. These drivers will free up capacity in the remaining non-toll lanes, which might ease congestion for the non-toll-paying people.

The idea takes advantage of the idea that some people will volunteer to pay extra. Maybe they are rich. Maybe they just like to save time and it is worth a bit of money.

If my drive is better and I see someone paying a toll - I don't think I will be so upset. I might instead say "thanks for paying more money to drive on the same road I drive for free."

But maybe it something else entirely. I am not sure yet.

So where is this magic 'restriping' land coming from? Yes, from the shoulder- that space where people go when there's an accident or car trouble. This makes Mopac that much more dangerous. It's sheer idiocy.

The least that corrupt TxDOT/Campo could do is package it as a 'green initiative' and make it an HOV lane.