"I don't trust a toll authority that doesn't answer to the public."
Special city council meeting to review need for toll roads
January 30, 2006
Ramon Bracamontes
El Paso Times
Copyright 2006
Toll roads, tolling authority and transportation issues are quickly becoming the hot potato of this election season as candidates in the March 7 primary are constantly being asked for their position on tolls.
And sadly, some say, most of those seeking public office are responding with the neutral answer of, "I need more time to study the issue."
"If you've announced for public office in this election, it is too late to study up on the issue," said H.W. Bill Sparks, an Eastside resident and voter. "You should already have an informed opinion because if you get elected this is an issue that you will have to deal with right away."
City Council has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. today to get more information on the region's transportation needs and on the need for a Regional Mobile Authority. City Council has the legislative power to establish a Regional Mobile Authority, which will have the power to establish tolls.
Though those running for state legislator or a county position will not have a vote when City Council votes on an Regional Mobile Authority, if elected, these state and county officer holders will have a seat on the Metropolitan Planning Organization's transportation board.
The organization typically approves the construction of all major roads in the region. It is this new construction, which includes the expansion of Loop 375 from Downtown to the Upper Valley, that is being targeted for tolling.
"I don't trust a toll authority that doesn't answer to the public," said state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who is up for re-election and has taken the lead against tolling in El Paso. "This RMA will answer to no one."
The Regional Mobile Authority's chairman would be appointed by the governor and its members would be appointed by City Council. No elected officials can serve on the authority.
Terry Bilderback, vice chairman of the mayor's Transportation Cabinet, which conducted two public meetings on the issue last week, said the authority cannot be classified as a governmental body with taxing authority because the tolls are voluntary and there must be alternative free routes.
"People just have a natural opposition to paying a toll," he said. "In this case, people can decide if they don't want to pay a toll, or if they want to be stuck in traffic. No one has to pay the toll."
Another argument revolves around the availability of money for the improvement of the region's infrastructure. Some have said, incorrectly, that without tolls El Paso will no longer get state money for new roads.
That is not the case, Bilderback said.
The truth is that Texas Department of Transportation funding will continue to be sent to El Paso probably at its current level of about $120 million a year. However, that amount of money is not enough to finish some of the major projects within the next 10 years because the TxDOT money is also used for maintenance.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has identified $10.7 billion worth of future transportation project needs for this area in the next 25 years, including about $1 billion for possible relocation of railroad lines. Only about $2.5 billion in traditional funding is likely to be available for those projects, according to TxDOT data.
"Having toll money ready allows us to speed up projects and get more done," Bilderback said.
Pickett said that while that is true, there are other ways that TxDOT can generate money for new construction projects.
"Tolls should be the last thing we do," Pickett said, "not the first."
The state legislative bill that authorized the establishment of Regional Mobile Authorities also gave TxDOT the ability to build roads with pass-through funding, or by selling bonds and other methods. Pass-through funding is what is currently being considered to build the inner loop that will connect Loop 375 to the Northeast.
In pass-through funding, the contractor puts up the money to build the road, and the state pays it back.
"This is a complicated issue and I hope that City Council will take the time to study the issue before they decide to establish an RMA," Pickett said.
Northeast city Rep. Melina Castro said she is feeling the pressure from the mayor's office and some business interests in town to establish a Regional Mobile Authority. But Castro, who is the chair of the council's Transportation Legislative Review Committee, said she will not move fast.
"I am going to take as long as it takes," Castro said. "I would hate to make a rushed decision and later realize that it was the wrong decision."
Her committee two weeks ago asked for more public input and for more meetings. There is no timetable for when City Council will vote on the issue.
Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.
© 2006 El Paso Times www.borderlandnews.com
January 30, 2006
Ramon Bracamontes
El Paso Times
Copyright 2006
Toll roads, tolling authority and transportation issues are quickly becoming the hot potato of this election season as candidates in the March 7 primary are constantly being asked for their position on tolls.
And sadly, some say, most of those seeking public office are responding with the neutral answer of, "I need more time to study the issue."
"If you've announced for public office in this election, it is too late to study up on the issue," said H.W. Bill Sparks, an Eastside resident and voter. "You should already have an informed opinion because if you get elected this is an issue that you will have to deal with right away."
City Council has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. today to get more information on the region's transportation needs and on the need for a Regional Mobile Authority. City Council has the legislative power to establish a Regional Mobile Authority, which will have the power to establish tolls.
Though those running for state legislator or a county position will not have a vote when City Council votes on an Regional Mobile Authority, if elected, these state and county officer holders will have a seat on the Metropolitan Planning Organization's transportation board.
The organization typically approves the construction of all major roads in the region. It is this new construction, which includes the expansion of Loop 375 from Downtown to the Upper Valley, that is being targeted for tolling.
"I don't trust a toll authority that doesn't answer to the public," said state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who is up for re-election and has taken the lead against tolling in El Paso. "This RMA will answer to no one."
The Regional Mobile Authority's chairman would be appointed by the governor and its members would be appointed by City Council. No elected officials can serve on the authority.
Terry Bilderback, vice chairman of the mayor's Transportation Cabinet, which conducted two public meetings on the issue last week, said the authority cannot be classified as a governmental body with taxing authority because the tolls are voluntary and there must be alternative free routes.
"People just have a natural opposition to paying a toll," he said. "In this case, people can decide if they don't want to pay a toll, or if they want to be stuck in traffic. No one has to pay the toll."
Another argument revolves around the availability of money for the improvement of the region's infrastructure. Some have said, incorrectly, that without tolls El Paso will no longer get state money for new roads.
That is not the case, Bilderback said.
The truth is that Texas Department of Transportation funding will continue to be sent to El Paso probably at its current level of about $120 million a year. However, that amount of money is not enough to finish some of the major projects within the next 10 years because the TxDOT money is also used for maintenance.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has identified $10.7 billion worth of future transportation project needs for this area in the next 25 years, including about $1 billion for possible relocation of railroad lines. Only about $2.5 billion in traditional funding is likely to be available for those projects, according to TxDOT data.
"Having toll money ready allows us to speed up projects and get more done," Bilderback said.
Pickett said that while that is true, there are other ways that TxDOT can generate money for new construction projects.
"Tolls should be the last thing we do," Pickett said, "not the first."
The state legislative bill that authorized the establishment of Regional Mobile Authorities also gave TxDOT the ability to build roads with pass-through funding, or by selling bonds and other methods. Pass-through funding is what is currently being considered to build the inner loop that will connect Loop 375 to the Northeast.
In pass-through funding, the contractor puts up the money to build the road, and the state pays it back.
"This is a complicated issue and I hope that City Council will take the time to study the issue before they decide to establish an RMA," Pickett said.
Northeast city Rep. Melina Castro said she is feeling the pressure from the mayor's office and some business interests in town to establish a Regional Mobile Authority. But Castro, who is the chair of the council's Transportation Legislative Review Committee, said she will not move fast.
"I am going to take as long as it takes," Castro said. "I would hate to make a rushed decision and later realize that it was the wrong decision."
Her committee two weeks ago asked for more public input and for more meetings. There is no timetable for when City Council will vote on the issue.
Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.
© 2006 El Paso Times
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Monday, January 30, 2006
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