"Does anybody have a dime?"
Posted on 05/29/2016 1:11:28 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
America's roads and bridges got a real workout in 2015. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, drivers last year logged more miles on our roads than in any year in U.S. history — more than 3.1 trillion miles — an increase of more than 3% over 2014.
Wisconsin is part of that trend with more than 60 billion of those miles traveled. But, too often, Wisconsinites find themselves idling in traffic or on slow-going, bumpy roads. I'm sure it was not a surprise when a study commissioned by the Local Government of Wisconsin Institute concluded last spring that Wisconsin roads are the third worst in the nation.
Now, a year later, while the governor, legislators and the state Department of Transportation debate a path of action, Milwaukee residents continue to sit in traffic, and pay an extra $700 in vehicle repairs every year due to damaged roads — that's almost double the national average of $377.
Infrastructure deterioration in Wisconsin — due largely to slashed budgets — affects almost every industry and motorist in the state. Making matters worse, traffic continues to increase, producing more wear and tear on already crumbling roads and bridges that were built for far less traffic.
It is time for Wisconsin to seriously consider tolling.
Currently, 35 states have leveraged the power of tolling as a proven and effective option to meet their road funding needs. Neighboring states such as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio all have tolled facilities. Across the country, toll road usage was up 7% in 2015, with more than 5 billion trips on toll roads, bridges and tunnels. Toll roads are helping states build stronger economies, move people and goods faster and more efficiently and, most important, create a safer, more sustainable infrastructure.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Where is ALL the money from gas taxes going?
Public union pensions?
How about we cut them first.
Stop diverting the money to social welfare programs.
Just replace your elected criminals, and INSIST that gas taxes be used for the originally intended purpose ONLY maintenance and expansion of highways.
NOT rocket science.
"Does anybody have a dime?"
Doyle made history raiding transportation funds for social programs.
The roads were not being fixed under him for a very long time.
We have had big interchange projects that have and will make travel better.
These same knobs wanted to tear down one freeway entrance into the city, i 794.
Milwaukee mayors are notorious,for not fixing roads and not making travel into and out of the city easy and safe. Some have deliberately kept out plans to make it work better.
It is time for the Senile Urinal to consider moving to Madison with the rest of the state’s loons. If you have fish, it makes a good wrap; if you have a fireplace it is a good fire starter; if you have a bird cage it will catch all the doodoo - else leave the paper were it lies - pun intended.
Democrat Gov. Doyle raided the states Transportation Fund
Patrick Jones is executive director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Washington, D.C.
Don’t do it Wisconsin. There is no end to this stuff. I live in New York. We have vehicle registration, tolls, gas taxes, fines (and an army of cops to issue tickets) up the wazoo. The motoring public pays through the nose, and the roads STILL suck.
Michigan doesn’t have any toll roads.
Tolls are just a means of adding more government union members to the DNC fund rasising racket. Gas taxes are more efficient, and don’t slow down traffic.
Get those free-loading electric car divers to pay their fair share of road taxes.
I remember long ago some of our “esteemed” Senators came up with the harebrained idea of tolling ALL the East River crossings (Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Queensboro Bridges) as a means to reduce air pollution and, incredibly, they thought it would alleviate traffic congestion. DUH! They swore up and down the proceeds would be used strictly for bridge maintenance and funding mass transit. Well if history’s a guide, I have a collection of old road maps, including some of the NY Thruway from the 50’s published by the NYDOT. Back then they said the tolls on the Tappan Zee Bridge and the rest of the Thruway would be removed by 1996, when the bonds were expected to be paid off. Promises, Promises!
A previous governor, a democrat named Doyle which this paper vigorously supported said nothing when he diverted 3 Billion$ of road funds to cover WEAC (Teachers union) pension funds .
After the election of Walker which this paper opposed. Then supported Walker’s recall. But also with that recall there was a state constitutional referendum which prevented such shenanigans as the misuse and diversion of road funds. The MJS opposed that referendum while vigorously supporting Walkers recall .
How about getting a refund from the teachers union ?
Poor roads is a win win for the liberals. They get taxes increased, control over transportation, get their “green” trains and increase control of movement of people. They really do not want people moving around their mother earth.
Bunches of already built highways in Texas are planned to become tollroads - Thankyou Gov. Perry! I believe 17 highways. So when 35 becomes a tollway the damage done to the economy will be immense for all the businesses and people that have no choice but to drive that highway. Then the inability to advance the infrastructure do to contractual obligations and the desire to force people onto the tollways. Absolutely ridiculous. Just raise the freakin gas tax but don’t toll the roads. And with the amount of cars being driven for example in DFW which has doubled in the last 10 or 15 years where is all the money? One doesn’t even need to raise the gas tax.
“increase control of movement of people. They really do not want people moving around their mother earth.”
I remember back in the late sixties the wackadoodles were plotting to “get Americans out of their cars” by jacking up the price of gasoline.
“Michigan doesn’t have any toll roads.”
Actually, he didn’t say toll roads - he said ‘toll facilities’, which includes bridges.
He’s being deceptive - too bad he wasn’t called out on it.
Since I’m a resident of Maryland, that sounds all-too-familiar to me.
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