"These tolls appear to be a 'tax' going to other things than retiring these roads' debt."

Does it toll for me again?

August 11, 2006

Letters
Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006

Re: "Pact would clear the way for toll roads," Wednesday Metro.

This left one item unanswered: Who will pay for the roads?

Based on tolls collected, the Dallas North Tollway should have become a free road, with only the newest sections a "tollway." Instead, the entire length remains a "pay-for-use" road. The President George Bush Tollway apparently is subsidizing other roads, too.

I don't mind paying for what I use, but these tolls appear to be a "tax" going to other things than retiring these roads' debt. When did I get to vote on this tax?

The Trans-Texas Corridor meeting, held recently in Dallas, avoided discussing how tolls would be applied, except to say that it might take 20 to 50 years to complete the proposed corridor.

In that time, several roads would have been paid off, but it appears the "authority" is going to become another IRS and levy taxes without the Legislature voting to do so. This is not acceptable.

Scott Pinkston, Dallas

© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co www.dallasnews.com