TxDOT: "It's not a tax. It's a user fee."
Few attend toll lanes forum
April 21, 2006
Adriana M. Chávez
El Paso Times
Copyright 2006
Texas Department of Transportation officials hosted their third open house Thursday evening on the proposed toll lanes in El Paso, aiming to further educate the community on the city's transportation needs.
However, at least one attendee said El Paso isn't ready for toll lanes, and that if constructed, tolls could have a negative snowball effect on the city's economy.
"I don't know if El Paso's economy can support" toll roads, said Eastsider Sylvia Stuckey, who was at Thursday's open house at Riverside High School, 301 Midway. "Everything is getting more expensive and gasoline is hovering close to $3 a gallon. (Toll lanes) are going to affect all areas of the economy."
Blanca Del Valle, TxDOT spokeswoman, said the three open houses TxDOT has sponsored so far have averaged about 20 to 30 attendees per night, and TxDOT will also have more public meetings in the future.
Mark C. Longenbaugh, director of transportation, planning and development for TxDOT in El Paso, said the toll lanes will be added along Interstate 10 beginning at the Texas/New Mexico state line in Anthony up to Sunland Park Drive.
Toll lanes will also be added above Paisano from the West Side into Downtown, providing the completion of Loop 375. The toll lanes will run alongside existing lanes that will remain free of charge, Longenbaugh said.
"It's not a tax. It's a user fee. No existing lanes will be tolled," Longenbaugh said. "It's a choice and a time-saving issue. People using the (toll lanes) will get to their destination faster."
Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.
Copyright © 2006 El Paso Times www.borderlandnews.com
April 21, 2006
Adriana M. Chávez
El Paso Times
Copyright 2006
Texas Department of Transportation officials hosted their third open house Thursday evening on the proposed toll lanes in El Paso, aiming to further educate the community on the city's transportation needs.
However, at least one attendee said El Paso isn't ready for toll lanes, and that if constructed, tolls could have a negative snowball effect on the city's economy.
"I don't know if El Paso's economy can support" toll roads, said Eastsider Sylvia Stuckey, who was at Thursday's open house at Riverside High School, 301 Midway. "Everything is getting more expensive and gasoline is hovering close to $3 a gallon. (Toll lanes) are going to affect all areas of the economy."
Blanca Del Valle, TxDOT spokeswoman, said the three open houses TxDOT has sponsored so far have averaged about 20 to 30 attendees per night, and TxDOT will also have more public meetings in the future.
Mark C. Longenbaugh, director of transportation, planning and development for TxDOT in El Paso, said the toll lanes will be added along Interstate 10 beginning at the Texas/New Mexico state line in Anthony up to Sunland Park Drive.
Toll lanes will also be added above Paisano from the West Side into Downtown, providing the completion of Loop 375. The toll lanes will run alongside existing lanes that will remain free of charge, Longenbaugh said.
"It's not a tax. It's a user fee. No existing lanes will be tolled," Longenbaugh said. "It's a choice and a time-saving issue. People using the (toll lanes) will get to their destination faster."
Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.
Copyright © 2006 El Paso Times
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, April 21, 2006
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