Don't most Austinites Oppose Toll Roads? (utilities, sales tax, living)

[Newbe10]

Originally Posted by EzPeterson

Why would we ever compare to, or bother emulating one of the worst-manage states in the US?

Listen, roads are never the answer. Ever. By the time you're done screwing traffic up with all the construction, it's time to make them bigger. So, live smart, not dependent on other people to pa e your way, and pay to play when you do need to get somewhere.

Trust me, I am independent and don't depend on others to pay my way. However, I will always feel that it is wrong to continuously slap toll roads on a growing metro area like Austin, Houston, and DFW.

Now I am not saying I am against toll roads that Parallel existing free routes like the Hardy Tollway in Houston or the Dallas North Tollway in Dallas/Collin Counties. However, I am against the continuation of TXDOT buliding new toll road after another without the consent of voters.

I especially feel for the people of Austin as it appears that they have the vast majority of the metro areas limited access roads tolled and that, from my research, none of those toll roads were established with the CONSENT of the voters.

I can only hope that a new governor and new officials in TXDOT in upcoming elections will vote to make current toll roads go free when their construction cost have been paid for and stop the process of building new toll routes like the Aggie Expressway from Houston to College Station, and the Trinity Parkway in Dallas.

[Gorfml]

It's funny how some ppl who make good money think they are paying more taxes than ppl who make less...

listen up, it goes by percent. The more u make the less taxes u pay...unless your accountant is ripping u off...

Got it?...

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Newbe10

Here in Texas, I doubt you actually pay a lot in taxes. In my years living here in Texas, the only high tax that I experienced outside of a local sales tax was state property taxes.

Texas has no state property taxes.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Texas has no state property taxes.

SHHHHHH!!!

Don't give those grackles down in the Capitol any ideas!

[veloman777]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Not to mention, do you consume anything at all that was brought to you or your town using roads? That's using the roads, even if you never drive on them.

The price of goods already contains the cost of transportation for them.

The issue isn't indirect "usage" of roads. The issue is personal usage of roads. So yes, people who drive on roads should pay more than those who don't drive on them. If I eat an apple that was trucked here with 10,000 other apples, that's not the same usage as driving a car on the highway with 10,000 other cars.

[riaelise]

eh, the SH45 costs us about 120/mo., but we're cool with it. That's the price we pay for a road that has minimal traffic and connects to everywhere in twelve minutes or less. Convenience is worth it. If the road became free, then we'd have another 35. No thanks.

[Trainwreck20]

I have no problem with toll roads as long as they are completely and utterly new and not also supported by tax dollars. I have issues with the monkeying around with tolling existing roads by adding lanes, etc.

[jb9152]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I have no problem with toll roads as long as they are completely and utterly new and not also supported by tax dollars. I have issues with the monkeying around with tolling existing roads by adding lanes, etc.

How is adding a lane and tolling it substantively different than building a new road and tolling it, as long as the current number of "free" lanes remains the same?

[Trainwreck20]

How is adding a lane and tolling it substantively different than building a new road and tolling it, as long as the current number of "free" lanes remains the same?

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.

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I have no problem with toll roads as long as they are completely and utterly new and not also supported by tax dollars. I have issues with the monkeying around with tolling existing roads by adding lanes, etc.

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.