"Toll roadways are NOT the solution --- they remain part of the problem."
Ramming Toll Roads 'Down Our Throats'
Texas and Other States on the Road for Tolls
8/25/08
Peter Stern
Capitol Hill Blue
Copyright 2008
For Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick Texas will get more toll roads even if they have to kill us financially to do it.
They are trying to finance toll roads from a new, 'creative' approach in taking tax dollars and retirement funds to ensure that their special interests make a fortune from toll roads.
LINK: Perry, Dewhurst, Craddick: Boost highway funding now
The number one fact about toll roads remains that they are NOT cost-effective over time and they generate long-term debt to the state, drivers and taxpayers. Furthermore, toll roads often create other problems.
LINK: Tolls Create Gridlock
There are other reasons governments push for toll roads. Some governments throughout the world "have introduced tolls in pursuit of a general policy to increase the extent of "use related payment" or with the goal of reducing road use and internalizing the negative effects of road usage (for example, congestion related prices). This is central to a 'sustainable' transport policy. In the Netherlands tolls are levied with the express intention of directing road users to other means of transport, both to ease road traffic conditions and to encourage use of the railways and inland waterways."
LINK: World Bank Group: Toll Roads and Concessions
In addition, there is little accountability re: toll costs and revenue of the toll roads once they are built. Representative Mark Strama's (who supports toll interests) bill highlights both the concerns he cites, but also the ones he isn't mentioning.
LINK: News Release: Texas State House of Representative
Furthermore, most of the time, toll roads throughout the nation are infinite forms of taxation and costs of the tolls frequently are raised and/or manipulated by the toll management.
LINK: Fat cats taking us for a ride
Raising toll costs has occurred frequently in the past; consequently, it will happen more often with future toll roads.
LINK: Steep increases set for toll roads
The rationale for toll roads is that there is a need by governments to remove themselves from providing means of transportation. They cannot manage and operate such systems professionally as can private industry.
Government does not have an endless financial resource to continue providing transportation unless it markets or leases from private industry.
A transportation system based on a pay for use plan continues to be the mold of the future.
LINK: Courtesy of the toll road lobby think tank at the Reason Foundation
There are other methods of building roadways that must be researched which are more cost-effective. We as a nation must think "out of the box" when it comes to future transportation needs; however, currently toll roadways are NOT the solution --- they remain part of the problem.
© 2008 Capitol Hill Blue:www.capitolhillblue.com
To search TTC News Archives clickHERE
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog clickHERE
Texas and Other States on the Road for Tolls
8/25/08
Peter Stern
Capitol Hill Blue
Copyright 2008
For Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick Texas will get more toll roads even if they have to kill us financially to do it.
They are trying to finance toll roads from a new, 'creative' approach in taking tax dollars and retirement funds to ensure that their special interests make a fortune from toll roads.
LINK: Perry, Dewhurst, Craddick: Boost highway funding now
The number one fact about toll roads remains that they are NOT cost-effective over time and they generate long-term debt to the state, drivers and taxpayers. Furthermore, toll roads often create other problems.
LINK: Tolls Create Gridlock
There are other reasons governments push for toll roads. Some governments throughout the world "have introduced tolls in pursuit of a general policy to increase the extent of "use related payment" or with the goal of reducing road use and internalizing the negative effects of road usage (for example, congestion related prices). This is central to a 'sustainable' transport policy. In the Netherlands tolls are levied with the express intention of directing road users to other means of transport, both to ease road traffic conditions and to encourage use of the railways and inland waterways."
LINK: World Bank Group: Toll Roads and Concessions
In addition, there is little accountability re: toll costs and revenue of the toll roads once they are built. Representative Mark Strama's (who supports toll interests) bill highlights both the concerns he cites, but also the ones he isn't mentioning.
LINK: News Release: Texas State House of Representative
Furthermore, most of the time, toll roads throughout the nation are infinite forms of taxation and costs of the tolls frequently are raised and/or manipulated by the toll management.
LINK: Fat cats taking us for a ride
Raising toll costs has occurred frequently in the past; consequently, it will happen more often with future toll roads.
LINK: Steep increases set for toll roads
The rationale for toll roads is that there is a need by governments to remove themselves from providing means of transportation. They cannot manage and operate such systems professionally as can private industry.
Government does not have an endless financial resource to continue providing transportation unless it markets or leases from private industry.
A transportation system based on a pay for use plan continues to be the mold of the future.
LINK: Courtesy of the toll road lobby think tank at the Reason Foundation
There are other methods of building roadways that must be researched which are more cost-effective. We as a nation must think "out of the box" when it comes to future transportation needs; however, currently toll roadways are NOT the solution --- they remain part of the problem.
© 2008 Capitol Hill Blue:www.capitolhillblue.com
To search TTC News Archives click
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog click
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Monday, August 25, 2008
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