Posted on 04/12/2017 12:12:54 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
For some, the possibility of tolls on Interstate 70 across Indiana is going over like a flat tire. But Republican lawmakers who control the legislature say they could help fund new driving lanes and only those who use the road would pay for them.
“I think it’s totally unfair,” said Judy Anderson, president of the Vigo County Board of Commissioners. “I don’t think we would be supportive at all.”
Pending legislation would let the governor place toll lanes on interstates and bridges, subject to federal approval.
Many Vigo County residents commute to jobs in Indianapolis and a large number of them already use U.S. 40 because of the condition of the interstate and ongoing construction, Anderson said.
“Are they going to finally finish the project and then turn around and make people pay to drive on it?” she asked. “That’s the discussion we need to have with the legislators.”
Higher tolls on Interstate 80 in northern Indiana may have shifted some traffic to Interstate 70 and imposing tolls on that highway could result in more traffic on U.S. 40, said Jeremy Weir, transportation planning director at West Central Indiana Economic Development District.
“That is definitely a concern that we would want to address,” Weir said. He noted local governments are now responsible for a stretch of the former alignment of U.S. 40 between the Illinois state line and Indiana 46.
“Our biggest concern is, if you put in a toll booth, how you control local traffic,” said Chuck Ennis, Terre Haute city engineer. “I think that’s going to be a problem all the way along the I-70 route because 40 is such a convenient parallel route. I can see big unintended consequences.
(Excerpt) Read more at tribstar.com ...
This in addition to the gas tax increase. I can see it from both sides. I think the tax is to repair rural roads for farmers.
“Higher tolls on Interstate 80 in northern Indiana may have shifted some traffic to Interstate 70 and imposing tolls on that highway could result in more traffic on U.S. 40, said Jeremy Weir, transportation planning director at West Central Indiana Economic Development District.”
And why are the tolls higher on I-80 (the Indiana Turnpike)? How about asking their druggie former governor, Mitch Daniels, who SOLD THE ROAD to Cintra for a one-time cash infusion. Daniels gets a nice, plush, retirement, while the people of Indiana will pay for his libertarian idealism for GENERATIONS. Thank God he never became president or we’d have toll on ALL of the Interstates by now (he considered running a while ago).
Uh huh. I love you, the check's in the mail, I won't. . . Never mind
This in addition to the gas tax increase. I can see it from both sides. I think the tax is to repair rural roads for farmers.
No. The gas tax increase is so lazy Republican lawmakers don't have to do the hard work of actually allocating the existing gasoline tax to infrastructure. Of the existing gasoline tax, five-sixths goes into the general fund and only one-sixth goes to maintain our roads and bridges. Our benevolent Republican overlords raised the gasoline tax a while back with the same shuck and jive of "we'll spend this on roads and bridges," then went on to fund their get-reelected pet projects. Just spend the gasoline tax on infrastructure, as was promised, and no new tax is needed. It is amazing how tax and spend Indiana Republicans are.
James R. McClure Jr.
Jeffersonian Anti-Federalist Democrat
Thank you for your input. I’ll pass this on to my daughter who is heavily involved with our state represents.
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