Posted on 12/04/2017 7:11:42 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
People forgot the asterisk.
Or maybe they never noticed it in the first place.
The consequences of that oversight took full form about a week ago, and the result is that the prospects for several major highway projects in Central Texas and the state’s other urban centers are now uncertain.
Back during the 2013 legislative session, when Texas Department of Transportation officials and their lawmaker allies began pushing for more money through a constitutional amendment, they said that TxDOT needed an extra $5 billion a year to fight traffic congestion. Just give us that much money and all will be well, they said.
Except, they added — sotto voce, at least in political terms — a caveat, that asterisk. They said, $5 billion more annually will do it, but only if you let us keep the “tools” we have now. Meaning, the ability to borrow money for some big urban projects and to charge tolls to pay it back.
But the $5 billion is what everybody heard, and that became the political message when what had become Proposition 1 was before voters in November 2014. Prop 1 passed, giving TxDOT a significant piece of that funding boost.
The Legislature, and voters, did the rest in 2015. Lawmakers ended the “diversion” to other state departments of about $600 million a year in gas taxes, returning it to TxDOT. And then voters in 2015 passed yet another constitutional amendment under Proposition 7, giving TxDOT a minimum of an additional $2.5 billion a year for roads.
(Excerpt) Read more at mystatesman.com ...
Plus after La Raza Rick the Islamist, Texans began paying attention to the details of road building plans.
It was easier when nobody read the fine print.
The Texas legislators need to be held accountable.
We accidentally turned on to a toll booth free toll road in Tyler, Texas. The toll had to be paid by mail or by phon. We had no idea how much the toll was
I tried to pay the toll by phone but no record was found of our plate.
They said wait two weeks and call back. There is a 30 day deadline to pay.
Called back and still no record. I was told at that time that this company didn’t bill to out of state plates. They also told me their company didn’t collect for that state highway either.
They gave me the number of the other company and that company told me there was no record and disregard not getting a bill.
So, we still don’t know if there was a bill, or where it was mailed to if at all or was it to our plate registration address, or what the hell is going on because those in charge of the tolls don’t either.
What a cluster.
Our state bird has become the Orange-striped Construction Barrel. It’s on every roadway you see. Somebody made a killing selling all those barrels to somebody.
Personally, I do my all to bankrupt the bastards by not using their damn roads (including Harris County).
fully privatize the interstates
Just got the 1st mailing of the BILL today $32+ and the way it's worded they make it sound like it's the second mailing but it's not. Due by 12/30/2017 “or else” they say it will get nasty and the Fees and Penalties will go out of site.
IF I'd have known that it was going to be that much I would have dealt with the Dumb$&!Ts in Austin. Hell $32+ is a full tank of gas plus!
A TOLL ROAD is one thing TOLL RAPE is another!!!
I thought that We All paid TAXES on Road Fuel to pay for the roads and upkeep of them.
Obviously I am wrong...
Yes, SH130 is pricey...but, worth it to avoid the ghastly Austin, near 24/7, gridlock.
I’ve been on 130 when it’s bumper to bumper or at a complete standstill. It’s often the longer, time wise, route to take.
I’ve been on 130 when it’s bumper to bumper or at a complete standstill. It’s often the longer, time wise, route to take.
No you’re not wrong, and they tipped their hand when they admitted they use gas tax dollars for everything else in the book but our roads.
“Lawmakers ended the “diversion” to other state departments of about $600 million a year in gas taxes, returning it to TxDOT.” In five years that’s $3.0 billion bucks.
Vehicle gas tax dollars should be exclusively for use on our highways.
If they want to charge a tax fee on buses or light rail, do it. See if it supports itself. If it doesn’t then throw in the towel. Nobody wants it bad enough to pay for it.
Why should vehicle owners have to pay for a service they don’t use?
These guys always make it sound like they have to pay for roads up front too. States issue bonds and pay for the highways over time. If they budget right, they’ll have enough money for highways.
I’m so sick of the bob n weaving politicians.
How did past generations pay for the roads we use today? They had to bite the bullet just like we are.
One more problem is that even the more Conservative states pay for programs that they should never have started. This leaves the general fund depleted with necessary things like roads come along.
Where are those folks going five days per week? They’re going to a job to earn funds which will be taxes one way or another.
You’d think state government officials would realize they have to subsidize in order to get their tax receipts.
Roads are indispensable.
I paid about the same to bypass the downtown Denver stupidity on I-25 by using the airport toll road. Pulling an RV made that worth it.
Thanks vette6387
PING!!
Wow...I guess we’ve been lucky, the times we’ve taken it, around Austin.
No matter what time of day we drive through Austin, there ALWAYS seems to be traffic on 35.
Even very late, at night.....either an accident or road work. Grrrrr.
Go big, or go home! Hennessey has bad stuff!
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