[A. Pole]

In exchange for its upfront payment, Cintra-Macquarie will collect and keep all money from tolls from the Skyway and will be able to raise tolls as incorporated under the terms of the agreement. The company is modernizing toll collection with an electronic transponder system. Until the technology is fully operable, toll collectors have been newly but temporarily recruited. But instead of earning an average hourly wage of $20.00 as their predecessors did, they are paid a $10.00 to $12.00 hourly wage. And as contracted, the Skyway offers the buyer an asset without having to deal with improvements or debt.

Low wage bump

[taxed2death]

How kewl is it to have a transponder in everyones car?

Not.

[Alberta's Child]

In your attempt to illustrate the problems with these foreign interests owning U.S. highways, you actually managed to highlight the one point (the elimination of overpaid toll collectors) that most people would actually consider a benefit of this kind of arrangement.

[taxcontrol]

I could never understand why there was a need for 5 or 6 toll workers at every toll station. A credit card / cash machine could handle the majority of the traffic. One toll worker to handle the odd payments.

[Hydroshock]

I find this distrubing on so many levels. One question, since my tax dollars are no longer needed to maintain this road we will see a reduction in our taxes. I wish, but think not.

[Young Scholar]

$20/hour to collect tolls? Are you calling that a good thing? Only a ridiculous government union could arrange that kind of deal.

[Doohickey]

One thing not mentioned in the article the number of small hotel, gas station and restaurant owners that went under because the Interstate highway system put out of business because the Interstates allowed people to travel farther, faster and/or avoid many small towns. But alas, we survived.

This situation also validates the rule that when a resource is given away for free, demand will swell to consume all available supply. It doesn't really matter how many traffic lanes we put into congested areas; more cars and trucks will show up to clog those up to.

I'm in favor of tolls, as long as there is a decrease in fuel or other taxes to go with it. If I don't feel like paying a toll, I can always take a U.S. highway to get where I'm going (and maybe actually see a little bit of America in the bargain).

My final comment is a question: Why are there no American companies that are willing to keep and maintain toll roads?

[xjcsa]

Low wage bump

Free market bump.

[ex-snook]

TFP.

Washington FUBAR

[Clintonfatigued]

If low wages, control of everything by the privlidged few, and lack of respect for individual property rights were the makings of a prosperous nation, Mexico would be the world's economic powerhouse.