PA Turnpike to increase tolls by 5% in 2015 (Penn: contractor, costs)

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by ram2

Untrue. Michigan, for example, raised their state gas tax in the 1990s with the promise the roads would get fixed. That never happened. Other states have raised their gas taxes in the past several years.

A section of freeway near my house was completely "redone" only 5 years ago, but is now full of potholes. Current road repair means doing shoddy work.

You are confusing state taxes with the federal gasoline tax, but that's fine. I can't speak to your freeway anecdote, but proper work costs money. Shoddy work is cheaper and the result of people who complain and vote against appropriate transportation funding. And guess what? Roads are continuously deteriorating infrastructure.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Enough_Already

Everyone accepts that as fact but much of the time buses are running nearly empty. Cars do not stop at every corner and they do not gridlock as easily when making turns. I think this is a "truth" which is actually false. Everyone is paying more and more for the incompetence and mismanagement of government. The Port Authority is the poster child for waste, mismanagement, and corruption.

It would simply be impossible for either downtown or Oakland to function without public transit. There's no room for the additional cars, either on the roads in and out or parked once they get there. Not that this has anything to do with the Turnpike.

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by Enough_Already

Everyone accepts that as fact but much of the time buses are running nearly empty. Cars do not stop at every corner and they do not gridlock as easily when making turns. I think this is a "truth" which is actually false. Everyone is paying more and more for the incompetence and mismanagement of government. The Port Authority is the poster child for waste, mismanagement, and corruption.

Another sweeping personal anecdote that reflects nothing but a perceived reality to back up an opinion. Who is taking these 232,000 daily trips in the Pittsburgh region? You continue to copy and paste your "incompetence and mismanagement of government" phrase but it does not seem to be connected to any of your points. Who's feeding you these killer zingers?

Alternatively, let me break it down for you:

Cars don't stop

Buses are empty

This is true but false

Everyone pays more for incompetence and mismanagement

Port Authority is incompetence and mismanagement and corruption

[Enough_Already]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

You are confusing state taxes with the federal gasoline tax, but that's fine. I can't speak to your freeway anecdote, but proper work costs money. Shoddy work is cheaper and the result of people who complain and vote against appropriate transportation funding. And guess what? Roads are continuously deteriorating infrastructure.

With government we get shoddy work at more than premium prices!

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by Enough_Already

With government we get shoddy work at more than premium prices!

Guess who's doing the work? Private contractors.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

Who's feeding you these killer zingers?

Bill Steigerwald, probably.

[Enough_Already]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

Guess who's doing the work? Private contractors.

With GOVERNMENT specifications. I remember years ago the Parkway was paved and fell apart almost immediately. What happened, another huge contract to fix it. In the private sector it would have been fixed with no new contract. It is the government mismanagement that allows contracts like this in the first place. It is the government who writes the specifications for work that does do hold up. It is government mismanagement which makes the Turnpike tolls and gas taxes so high.

[ram2]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

You are confusing state taxes with the federal gasoline tax, but that's fine. I can't speak to your freeway anecdote, but proper work costs money. Shoddy work is cheaper and the result of people who complain and vote against appropriate transportation funding. And guess what? Roads are continuously deteriorating infrastructure.

States are free to raise their own taxes to fund road repair as they see fit. Road repair funding is not just a federal responsibility.

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by ram2

States are free to raise their own taxes to fund road repair as they see fit. Road repair funding is not just a federal responsibility.

In reality, who do you think funds most highway repair?

[ram2]

Originally Posted by Der Schwabe

Guess who's doing the work? Private contractors.

Contractors who are buddies with the politicians.