"We are taxpayers. They don’t think they are accountable to anyone.”
Toll roads: more money, less traffic?
November 06, 2006
by Peter Cawthon IV
The Paisano
Copyright
Students may have to dig into their pockets in the future is they want to get to class more quickly.
The city plans to build toll roads on highways 281, Loop 1604 and perhaps on Bandera road.
The Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) brought the toll road issue to UTSA by asking Dave Ramos, San Antonio Toll Party head of communications, to speak on campus.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) believes that over the next 25 years, the department will incur an $8.4 billion deficit. Currently, there is a $.20 per gallon state tax on gasoline, intended to pay for maintenance of existing roads and the construction of new roads; TxDOT argues this is not nearly enough.
The San Antonio Toll Party, whose web site states they are a “Taxpayer revolt like the Boston Tea Party,” is a grassroots organization against the building or use of toll roads in San Antonio. They feel that in using toll roads, the government is taxing the people twice over.
Ramos began by showing a photo of a four-lane toll road within an eight-lane freeway in California. On the roads that were not tolled, traffic was bumper to bumper. On the tolled lanes, however, significantly fewer vehicles traveled quickly and unencumbered. According to Ramos, many Californians cannot afford to pay the $.89 per mile toll.
Of the money currently collected through the gas tax in Texas, Ramos states the majority is not used on roads. He claims that some of the money goes towards paying for Christmas trees in government buildings and for private parking lots.
“There are billions being diverted,” Ramos said. “How can you say there is a funding crisis?”
Ramos believes the fault lies within TxDOT itself.
“TxDOT claims it does not have money to maintain new roads,” Ramos said. “It is a bad assumption that they are working efficiently.”
Ramos also produced copies of an on-line survey posted by TxDOT showing various costs for tolling roads and correlating expected driving times between two locales, in this case between Randolph Air force Base and the UTSA area. According to the survey, a one-way trip would cost $5.90 with a travel time of 28 minutes, compared to using a toll-free road with a travel time of 44 minutes.
TxDOT claimed the costs stated on the survey were what they thought the market could bear.
The Texas Toll Party believes that the deficit problem could be fixed by increasing the gas tax by two to three cents.
Clay Smith, director of Transportation Planning and Development in the San Antonio District, believes the two-cent increase is grossly underestimated.
He feels the gas tax increase should be closer to $.75 to cover the costs; but even then, he dislikes the idea.
“Only those who use the toll roads will have to pay,” Smith said. “Gas tax affects everyone. We don’t think that’s fair.”
Smith agrees with the San Antonio Toll Party that the current tax is diverted many ways; some goes towards parks and some towards public schools.
The current system, Smith said, allows TxDOT to receive the money incrementally and thus travels can only afford to pay as we go. He cited the 20 years of construction on Loop 410 as an example.
Smith mentioned that the only roads to be tolled are new roads; existing roads will remain as they are.
“I’ve heard Ramos say it will cost you $2,000 to $3,000 a year to use toll roads,” Smith said. “It doesn’t have to cost you a thing.”
Congestion, Smith claims, is the real issue.
Students, at times, wake up late and have to rush to class. This is where Smith believes the tolled roads will be beneficial to the UTSA students.
“If you’re trying to take a test and are late,” Smith said, “maybe the toll road would be worth it.”
Smith estimates the cost of traveling from 281 and 1604 to the UTSA campus would be approximately $1.50 at $.15 cents per mile. He does not expect student discounts to be offered.
Smith thinks businesses will determine how to make toll roads work for them.
“They will find the most economic way,” Smith said. “They will find the fastest way.”
The San Antonio Toll Party thinks that the cost of the tolls and the difficulty of getting products to retail stores will drive up prices.
Terri Hall, director for the San Antonio Toll Party, believes tolls roads are used to manipulate traffic to increase revenue.
“Right now gas tax is $.20. They say we need a $.50 increase,” Hall said. “What type of roads do they want to build?”
Travis Weissler, YCT chairman, thinks the traffic and cost issues can be solved in other ways.
“Instead of an increase [in gas tax], we would like to see more accountability by TxDOT,” Weissler said. “They need greater accountability towards voters.”
Alda Morales, College Democrats president, doubts that toll roads will be constructed; but if they are, she feels students would use them if they are cheap enough.
“I don’t think students would be willing to pay more that $1.50 to $2.00 in order to use the toll roads,” Morales said.
She feels students’ time would be better spent concentrating on issues such as education in Texas.
With 30 years of experience in transportation, Smith questioned the reliability of the new San Antonio Texas Toll Party, which launched in 2005.
Hall doesn’t think experience matters.
“We don’t need experience in transportation, we are taxpayers,” Hall said. “They don’t think they are accountable to anyone.”
© 2006 The Paisano Online: www.paisano-online.com
November 06, 2006
by Peter Cawthon IV
The Paisano
Copyright
Students may have to dig into their pockets in the future is they want to get to class more quickly.
The city plans to build toll roads on highways 281, Loop 1604 and perhaps on Bandera road.
The Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) brought the toll road issue to UTSA by asking Dave Ramos, San Antonio Toll Party head of communications, to speak on campus.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) believes that over the next 25 years, the department will incur an $8.4 billion deficit. Currently, there is a $.20 per gallon state tax on gasoline, intended to pay for maintenance of existing roads and the construction of new roads; TxDOT argues this is not nearly enough.
The San Antonio Toll Party, whose web site states they are a “Taxpayer revolt like the Boston Tea Party,” is a grassroots organization against the building or use of toll roads in San Antonio. They feel that in using toll roads, the government is taxing the people twice over.
Ramos began by showing a photo of a four-lane toll road within an eight-lane freeway in California. On the roads that were not tolled, traffic was bumper to bumper. On the tolled lanes, however, significantly fewer vehicles traveled quickly and unencumbered. According to Ramos, many Californians cannot afford to pay the $.89 per mile toll.
Of the money currently collected through the gas tax in Texas, Ramos states the majority is not used on roads. He claims that some of the money goes towards paying for Christmas trees in government buildings and for private parking lots.
“There are billions being diverted,” Ramos said. “How can you say there is a funding crisis?”
Ramos believes the fault lies within TxDOT itself.
“TxDOT claims it does not have money to maintain new roads,” Ramos said. “It is a bad assumption that they are working efficiently.”
Ramos also produced copies of an on-line survey posted by TxDOT showing various costs for tolling roads and correlating expected driving times between two locales, in this case between Randolph Air force Base and the UTSA area. According to the survey, a one-way trip would cost $5.90 with a travel time of 28 minutes, compared to using a toll-free road with a travel time of 44 minutes.
TxDOT claimed the costs stated on the survey were what they thought the market could bear.
The Texas Toll Party believes that the deficit problem could be fixed by increasing the gas tax by two to three cents.
Clay Smith, director of Transportation Planning and Development in the San Antonio District, believes the two-cent increase is grossly underestimated.
He feels the gas tax increase should be closer to $.75 to cover the costs; but even then, he dislikes the idea.
“Only those who use the toll roads will have to pay,” Smith said. “Gas tax affects everyone. We don’t think that’s fair.”
Smith agrees with the San Antonio Toll Party that the current tax is diverted many ways; some goes towards parks and some towards public schools.
The current system, Smith said, allows TxDOT to receive the money incrementally and thus travels can only afford to pay as we go. He cited the 20 years of construction on Loop 410 as an example.
Smith mentioned that the only roads to be tolled are new roads; existing roads will remain as they are.
“I’ve heard Ramos say it will cost you $2,000 to $3,000 a year to use toll roads,” Smith said. “It doesn’t have to cost you a thing.”
Congestion, Smith claims, is the real issue.
Students, at times, wake up late and have to rush to class. This is where Smith believes the tolled roads will be beneficial to the UTSA students.
“If you’re trying to take a test and are late,” Smith said, “maybe the toll road would be worth it.”
Smith estimates the cost of traveling from 281 and 1604 to the UTSA campus would be approximately $1.50 at $.15 cents per mile. He does not expect student discounts to be offered.
Smith thinks businesses will determine how to make toll roads work for them.
“They will find the most economic way,” Smith said. “They will find the fastest way.”
The San Antonio Toll Party thinks that the cost of the tolls and the difficulty of getting products to retail stores will drive up prices.
Terri Hall, director for the San Antonio Toll Party, believes tolls roads are used to manipulate traffic to increase revenue.
“Right now gas tax is $.20. They say we need a $.50 increase,” Hall said. “What type of roads do they want to build?”
Travis Weissler, YCT chairman, thinks the traffic and cost issues can be solved in other ways.
“Instead of an increase [in gas tax], we would like to see more accountability by TxDOT,” Weissler said. “They need greater accountability towards voters.”
Alda Morales, College Democrats president, doubts that toll roads will be constructed; but if they are, she feels students would use them if they are cheap enough.
“I don’t think students would be willing to pay more that $1.50 to $2.00 in order to use the toll roads,” Morales said.
She feels students’ time would be better spent concentrating on issues such as education in Texas.
With 30 years of experience in transportation, Smith questioned the reliability of the new San Antonio Texas Toll Party, which launched in 2005.
Hall doesn’t think experience matters.
“We don’t need experience in transportation, we are taxpayers,” Hall said. “They don’t think they are accountable to anyone.”
© 2006 The Paisano Online:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Monday, November 06, 2006
<< Home