"The decisions are being made for us by unelected bureaucrats."
Chamber crowd hears tolls' pros and cons
03/30/2006
Amy Dorsett
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2006
Some 200 people shelled out $40 for a catered lunch of sandwiches and pasta salad at a downtown hotel ballroom Wednesday to hear a debate on the merits of toll roads.
Although nothing new about current toll proposals emerged in the debate, sponsored by the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the discussion apparently accomplished its main goal.
"It informs people," said Helotes resident Diane Skillrud. "It gets people to think about it."
Skillrud said she hasn't made up her mind about tolls, but believes the U.S. 281 toll project would have an impact on the entire region.
Arguing for tolls were former Mayor Bill Thornton, chairman of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority; and Joe Krier, president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
They said that assessing tolls on drivers who actually use the roads is more fair than imposing more taxes on everyone, and that traffic congestion relief would come quicker than relying on more traditional ways of highway funding.
"San Antonio has congestion problems and it's worsening every day," Thornton said. "Tolls are paid only by those who choose to drive on toll roads."
Arguing against tolls were Terri Hall, founder and director of San Antonio Toll Party, and Bill Barker, a local travel consultant.
They argued that San Antonio already has a dedicated sales tax supporting road projects, and that toll road rates are being grossly underestimated by toll proponents.
"Building more highways doesn't always result in less congestion and shorter commute times," Barker said.
The Texas Department of Transportation has proposed more than seven miles of toll lanes along U.S. 281, from Loop 1604 to Comal County. Work on the first three miles was supposed to start in January but was halted by a lawsuit filed by Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas and People for Efficient Transportation.
The project will be delayed for at least a year while additional environmental studies are conducted.
Hall said the decision for toll road should be made at the polls.
"The decisions are being made for us by unelected bureaucrats," she said. "This should be in the hand of voters."
But Krier said the public can easily have its say on the issue.
"The nice thing about tolls is you get to vote for them everyday, anytime you want to use them," he said. "And we have elected officials who are held accountable."
The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, which hosted "Toll Roads: The Great Debate" at the Marriott Plaza hotel, has not decided whether or not to endorse toll roads.
"We've had questions from our membership and we wanted to have an informative luncheon to let folks know what is happening," said spokeswoman Suzann Haces. "It's good to know what's going on."
adorsett@express-news.net
© 2006 San Antonio Express-News: www.mysanantonio.com
03/30/2006
Amy Dorsett
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2006
Some 200 people shelled out $40 for a catered lunch of sandwiches and pasta salad at a downtown hotel ballroom Wednesday to hear a debate on the merits of toll roads.
Although nothing new about current toll proposals emerged in the debate, sponsored by the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the discussion apparently accomplished its main goal.
"It informs people," said Helotes resident Diane Skillrud. "It gets people to think about it."
Skillrud said she hasn't made up her mind about tolls, but believes the U.S. 281 toll project would have an impact on the entire region.
Arguing for tolls were former Mayor Bill Thornton, chairman of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority; and Joe Krier, president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
They said that assessing tolls on drivers who actually use the roads is more fair than imposing more taxes on everyone, and that traffic congestion relief would come quicker than relying on more traditional ways of highway funding.
"San Antonio has congestion problems and it's worsening every day," Thornton said. "Tolls are paid only by those who choose to drive on toll roads."
Arguing against tolls were Terri Hall, founder and director of San Antonio Toll Party, and Bill Barker, a local travel consultant.
They argued that San Antonio already has a dedicated sales tax supporting road projects, and that toll road rates are being grossly underestimated by toll proponents.
"Building more highways doesn't always result in less congestion and shorter commute times," Barker said.
The Texas Department of Transportation has proposed more than seven miles of toll lanes along U.S. 281, from Loop 1604 to Comal County. Work on the first three miles was supposed to start in January but was halted by a lawsuit filed by Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas and People for Efficient Transportation.
The project will be delayed for at least a year while additional environmental studies are conducted.
Hall said the decision for toll road should be made at the polls.
"The decisions are being made for us by unelected bureaucrats," she said. "This should be in the hand of voters."
But Krier said the public can easily have its say on the issue.
"The nice thing about tolls is you get to vote for them everyday, anytime you want to use them," he said. "And we have elected officials who are held accountable."
The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, which hosted "Toll Roads: The Great Debate" at the Marriott Plaza hotel, has not decided whether or not to endorse toll roads.
"We've had questions from our membership and we wanted to have an informative luncheon to let folks know what is happening," said spokeswoman Suzann Haces. "It's good to know what's going on."
adorsett@express-news.net
© 2006 San Antonio Express-News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, March 30, 2006
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