"They are taking public expressways and turning them into toll roads for the first time in our country."
Toll Roads Open To Mixed Reaction From Drivers
Nov 1, 2006
Julie Simon Reporting
CBS 42 CENTRAL TEXAS
Copyright 2006
Tuesday was the sneak peek. Wednesday toll roads in Central Texas officially opened to drivers.
The Texas Department of Transportation held its toll road ribbon cutting Wednesday morning.
This is now the second night in a row commuters here are getting to use the newly built toll roads to get where they are going.
It's happened in stages but toll roads are now on State Highway 130 from U.S. 79 to U.S. 290, the MoPac extension north of Parmer and State Highway 45.
For TxDOT, Wednesday was a milestone.
And with that TxDOT officially welcomed toll roads to Texas. Elected officials, who helped bring them here, called it a momentous day for Texans.
“Folks this is a big deal, it really is,” said Robert Nichols, former member, Texas Transportation Commission.
“We are not satisfied to live with the congestion that exists in downtown Austin so we will reduce congestion over the next 25 years,” chair of the Texas Transportation Commission Ric Williamson said.
Round Rock's mayor Nyle Maxwell called it a wonderful day.
Toll road project manager Tim Weight spent many nights and weekends overseeing construction. He's looking forward to a little down time.
“That’s number one on my mind right now-getting to know my kids again but we still have work to do,” Weight said. “We have another year of the project. This is just the first phase. More phases will be coning online.”
Drivers took the toll roads Wednesday and had mixed reactions.
“It's hard getting to work in the morning,” driver Rachel Gallagher said. “I think everyone is bunched up on it. It took me about 20 minutes longer because of everyone coming on the toll roads.”
“I think there are a lot of people like myself taking a cruise on the tollways seeing what its like, what problems there may be,” driver Bill Ullman said. “Overall, I think it's going to be a good thing.”
More tolls will continue to open after the first of the year and into 2007.
Toll roads in Central Texas are a controversial issue. Some people feel they are a form of double taxation.
“Phase One tolls, which were voted in year 2000, these are taking public expressways and turning them into toll roads for the first time in our country,” said Sal Costello, who is fighting the toll roads.
Costello says he will continue to fight the next phase of toll roads.
© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc.: keyetv.com
Nov 1, 2006
Julie Simon Reporting
CBS 42 CENTRAL TEXAS
Copyright 2006
Tuesday was the sneak peek. Wednesday toll roads in Central Texas officially opened to drivers.
The Texas Department of Transportation held its toll road ribbon cutting Wednesday morning.
This is now the second night in a row commuters here are getting to use the newly built toll roads to get where they are going.
It's happened in stages but toll roads are now on State Highway 130 from U.S. 79 to U.S. 290, the MoPac extension north of Parmer and State Highway 45.
For TxDOT, Wednesday was a milestone.
And with that TxDOT officially welcomed toll roads to Texas. Elected officials, who helped bring them here, called it a momentous day for Texans.
“Folks this is a big deal, it really is,” said Robert Nichols, former member, Texas Transportation Commission.
“We are not satisfied to live with the congestion that exists in downtown Austin so we will reduce congestion over the next 25 years,” chair of the Texas Transportation Commission Ric Williamson said.
Round Rock's mayor Nyle Maxwell called it a wonderful day.
Toll road project manager Tim Weight spent many nights and weekends overseeing construction. He's looking forward to a little down time.
“That’s number one on my mind right now-getting to know my kids again but we still have work to do,” Weight said. “We have another year of the project. This is just the first phase. More phases will be coning online.”
Drivers took the toll roads Wednesday and had mixed reactions.
“It's hard getting to work in the morning,” driver Rachel Gallagher said. “I think everyone is bunched up on it. It took me about 20 minutes longer because of everyone coming on the toll roads.”
“I think there are a lot of people like myself taking a cruise on the tollways seeing what its like, what problems there may be,” driver Bill Ullman said. “Overall, I think it's going to be a good thing.”
More tolls will continue to open after the first of the year and into 2007.
Toll roads in Central Texas are a controversial issue. Some people feel they are a form of double taxation.
“Phase One tolls, which were voted in year 2000, these are taking public expressways and turning them into toll roads for the first time in our country,” said Sal Costello, who is fighting the toll roads.
Costello says he will continue to fight the next phase of toll roads.
© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc.:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, November 01, 2006
<< Home