"Robin Hood hasn't worked for education, and Robin Hood isn't going to work for transportation either"
Toll increase plan has drivers asking 'Why us?'
October 27, 2005
By BRAD WATSON
WFAA-TV Dallas
Copyright 2005
The increase in toll could have some paying an extra $8 to $10 a month.
Political opposition seems to be growing on a plan to increase tolls in 2007 on the Dallas North Tollway and George Bush Turnpike to help build a new toll road in Fort Worth.
The Dallas North Tollway and the George Bush Turnpike are rivers of steel, concrete and cash.
But the North Texas Tollway Authority said it may need more of that cash for two new projects. And to get those funds, they plan on higher tolls.
The two projects include the eastern extension of the George Bush Turnpike in northeast Dallas County and a new project that includes a separate toll road at Southwest Parkway in Fort Worth.
"Today we may be using some money out of Dallas or Collin," said Chuck Silcox, Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem. "But tomorrow, Denton, Collin or Dallas could literally be utilizing the profits off of Southwest Parkway."
NTTA is looking at increasing the toll for a one way trip on the Dallas North Tollway from $2.10 to $2.30. For the commuter making a daily round trip over an average 21 work days in a month, that's more than an $8 increase.
On the Bush Turnpike, one way could go from $3.00 to $3.25. A daily round trip over 21 work days in that area would mean a $10 monthly jump.
Finding support from Tollway drivers wasn't easy.
"This is Dallas," said one driver. "Let Fort Worth pay for Fort Worth."
Another driver also expressed annoyance at the plan.
"I don't go over to Fort Worth," he said.
Those drivers seem to have a political ally in Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher.
"Since tolls are user fees, they ought not to have to be paying for a project that they are not going to use," Keliher said
Keliher claims Southwest Parkway should be self-supporting. Silcox does not agree.
"To charge a toll that would make it self-supporting would make it astronomical," he said.
But Keliher said there has already been a plan that has proven Silcox wrong.
"Robin Hood hasn't worked for education, and Robin Hood isn't going to work for transportation either," she said.
E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com
WFAA-TV www.wfaa.com
October 27, 2005
By BRAD WATSON
WFAA-TV Dallas
Copyright 2005
The increase in toll could have some paying an extra $8 to $10 a month.
Political opposition seems to be growing on a plan to increase tolls in 2007 on the Dallas North Tollway and George Bush Turnpike to help build a new toll road in Fort Worth.
The Dallas North Tollway and the George Bush Turnpike are rivers of steel, concrete and cash.
But the North Texas Tollway Authority said it may need more of that cash for two new projects. And to get those funds, they plan on higher tolls.
The two projects include the eastern extension of the George Bush Turnpike in northeast Dallas County and a new project that includes a separate toll road at Southwest Parkway in Fort Worth.
"Today we may be using some money out of Dallas or Collin," said Chuck Silcox, Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem. "But tomorrow, Denton, Collin or Dallas could literally be utilizing the profits off of Southwest Parkway."
NTTA is looking at increasing the toll for a one way trip on the Dallas North Tollway from $2.10 to $2.30. For the commuter making a daily round trip over an average 21 work days in a month, that's more than an $8 increase.
On the Bush Turnpike, one way could go from $3.00 to $3.25. A daily round trip over 21 work days in that area would mean a $10 monthly jump.
Finding support from Tollway drivers wasn't easy.
"This is Dallas," said one driver. "Let Fort Worth pay for Fort Worth."
Another driver also expressed annoyance at the plan.
"I don't go over to Fort Worth," he said.
Those drivers seem to have a political ally in Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher.
"Since tolls are user fees, they ought not to have to be paying for a project that they are not going to use," Keliher said
Keliher claims Southwest Parkway should be self-supporting. Silcox does not agree.
"To charge a toll that would make it self-supporting would make it astronomical," he said.
But Keliher said there has already been a plan that has proven Silcox wrong.
"Robin Hood hasn't worked for education, and Robin Hood isn't going to work for transportation either," she said.
E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com
WFAA-TV
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, October 28, 2005
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