Ric Williamson: Limiting consumers' costs "is not our strategy."
City officials push to control tollway
Frisco: Leaders say state will allow higher fees on 121 project
January 25, 2006
By BILL LODGE
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
State and Collin County officials appear to be on a collision course concerning the future of State Highway 121.
At issue is who will control the project to convert the highway into a tollway – and how much it will cost area residents. The project covers an 11-mile stretch of State Highway 121 between Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Highway 75.
According to Frisco officials, if the state ends up in control of the project, annual tolls are expected to be more than double the amount that would be charged under a plan proposed by Collin County, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and Plano.
Tolls are needed on Highway 121 to complete its expansion by 2010 and avoid an additional decade of traffic tie-ups, said George Purefoy, Frisco's city manager.
He urged about 150 residents at a town hall meeting Monday evening to contact the county's state legislators and let them know whether state or local officials should control the expansion.
Frisco Mayor Pro Tem Maher Maso noted that Texas taxpayers already paid for Highway 121's existing lanes. But state officials are considering awarding contracts for the project to private companies, which could then set tolls as high as the market will bear, he said.
"Not only is that double taxation, it is taxation without representation," Mr. Maso said.
Frisco officials estimated that state plans to use Highway 121 as a cash cow would increase initial annual tolls for a twice-a-day driver by more than $700 – not counting weekends. Mr. Purefoy argued that the highway should be available to all residents, not just those who are wealthy.
He also said that the Texas Transportation Commission wants to use excess tolls from Highway 121 in Collin County to fund other projects outside the county.
"This entire group up here is against that concept," the city manager told the audience as he gestured toward City Council members.
The state is increasingly relying on tollways to fund road construction, he said, because gasoline taxes are no longer sufficient for the job.
He distributed information that indicates the North Texas Tollway Authority could operate Highway 121 as a tollway on behalf of the county and four cities, while holding initial tolls in 2010 to 12 cents per mile.
Mr. Purefoy said a private company, with the state's blessing, could initially charge tolls of 25 cents per mile.
Residents who were pleased with the state's record of funding public highways and public education are free to make their views known to their elected representatives, Mr. Purefoy said. But he urged those who were displeased to tell their legislators that they do not want state officials or private companies to control Highway 121's tolls.
Mr. Purefoy also was critical of statements last month by Ric Williamson, chairman of the state transportation commission, who said keeping highway costs as low as possible is "not necessarily in the best interest of solving the state's transportation dilemma" and that limiting consumers' costs "is not our strategy."
Mr. Purefoy said he interpreted Mr. Williamson's comments to mean: "He calls us sheep that he wants to fleece."
"I don't know if that gets your blood boiling, but it does mine," he said. "They shouldn't be taking money out of your pocket to help fund roadways somewhere else."
E-mail blodge@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co www.dallasnews.com
Frisco: Leaders say state will allow higher fees on 121 project
January 25, 2006
By BILL LODGE
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
State and Collin County officials appear to be on a collision course concerning the future of State Highway 121.
At issue is who will control the project to convert the highway into a tollway – and how much it will cost area residents. The project covers an 11-mile stretch of State Highway 121 between Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Highway 75.
According to Frisco officials, if the state ends up in control of the project, annual tolls are expected to be more than double the amount that would be charged under a plan proposed by Collin County, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and Plano.
Tolls are needed on Highway 121 to complete its expansion by 2010 and avoid an additional decade of traffic tie-ups, said George Purefoy, Frisco's city manager.
He urged about 150 residents at a town hall meeting Monday evening to contact the county's state legislators and let them know whether state or local officials should control the expansion.
Frisco Mayor Pro Tem Maher Maso noted that Texas taxpayers already paid for Highway 121's existing lanes. But state officials are considering awarding contracts for the project to private companies, which could then set tolls as high as the market will bear, he said.
"Not only is that double taxation, it is taxation without representation," Mr. Maso said.
Frisco officials estimated that state plans to use Highway 121 as a cash cow would increase initial annual tolls for a twice-a-day driver by more than $700 – not counting weekends. Mr. Purefoy argued that the highway should be available to all residents, not just those who are wealthy.
He also said that the Texas Transportation Commission wants to use excess tolls from Highway 121 in Collin County to fund other projects outside the county.
"This entire group up here is against that concept," the city manager told the audience as he gestured toward City Council members.
The state is increasingly relying on tollways to fund road construction, he said, because gasoline taxes are no longer sufficient for the job.
He distributed information that indicates the North Texas Tollway Authority could operate Highway 121 as a tollway on behalf of the county and four cities, while holding initial tolls in 2010 to 12 cents per mile.
Mr. Purefoy said a private company, with the state's blessing, could initially charge tolls of 25 cents per mile.
Residents who were pleased with the state's record of funding public highways and public education are free to make their views known to their elected representatives, Mr. Purefoy said. But he urged those who were displeased to tell their legislators that they do not want state officials or private companies to control Highway 121's tolls.
Mr. Purefoy also was critical of statements last month by Ric Williamson, chairman of the state transportation commission, who said keeping highway costs as low as possible is "not necessarily in the best interest of solving the state's transportation dilemma" and that limiting consumers' costs "is not our strategy."
Mr. Purefoy said he interpreted Mr. Williamson's comments to mean: "He calls us sheep that he wants to fleece."
"I don't know if that gets your blood boiling, but it does mine," he said. "They shouldn't be taking money out of your pocket to help fund roadways somewhere else."
E-mail blodge@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, January 25, 2006
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