Posted on 08/20/2004 9:42:15 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger upped the ante Thursday in his fight with Bay Area leaders over the financially troubled Bay Bridge seismic retrofit project, planning to submit legislation that puts the $2 billion-plus overrun cost on motorists using the bridge.
The administration said earlier this week it would seek a November ballot measure asking Bay Area voters to approve diverting $1 of the $3 bridge toll to paying for the overruns.
The actual wording of the bill, however, makes a November vote mandatory even though several Bay Area county election officials contend that the ballot deadline already has expired.
The bill also states that if Bay Area voters reject the $1 toll diversion, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission must find another way to pay locally.
The bill, expected to be introduced next week, authorizes the commission to opt for higher bridge tolls, if needed, to fund the Bay Bridge work and further seismic retrofits of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
A "signature" bridge to satisfy the egos of the Bay Area pliticians. And guess who gets to pay for it? The folks who drive over those bridges every day to get to their jobs, and otherwise conduct their business.
Actually, they are already paying. This bill would force part of the tolls back to the maintenance of the bridges away from the districts new pet "alternative transportation" projects.
Better them than the people who live 400 miles from the bridge and will never see it, let alone drive on it.
The folks who get to pay for the bridge are those who have elected their Socialist representatives and mayors for the past 40+ years.
What is the job growth in Oakland? How many jobs have been created in the last 20 years? Hah!
I understand that. My husband and I both use the bay area bridges on a nearly daily basis, and voted against the proposition that raised the tolls to $3. The increased is going to garbage like a trans bay terminal and more ferries. whoopeee. That'll really help. I'd much rather the increase be diverted to actual BRIDGE projects.
Prior to the election when the measure to increase tolls was voted on, Pistol-Packin' Don Perata said that's the bridge toll is a great way to get "revenue" because people who don't use the bridges are more than happy to saddle the commuters with the extra cost. He was absolutely correct. The % of people who use the bridges regularly is pretty low and they voted to tax "the other guy". Thanks a lot.
There was also a project where they would put these cars all around the city and you would access them via your membership card. Drive from A to B and leave at B. To get back home you might be able to drive from B to A but it might be a different car. Reservations would be via internet.
The same folks that didn;t build BART around the Bay when it could have been done for a pittance of what it would costs to extend it a few miles these days in any direction are the same ones running NGO outfits that we lovingly know as Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Rapid Transit Boards etc.. non-elected and non-answerable for the most part to anyone.
I hardly ever have reason to use any bridges ,, but I do question how the state , culpable as all heck for the poor decison making and cost projection processes, now wants off the hook .. It is the "owner" of the state's highways, of which this bridge and others are part of.
I know a lot of folks in other parts of the state don't like being made to pay for this mess, but it may be the only way to make some folks realize how much they have left decisions up to goons in 3 piece suits in all areas of how this state is run.
I love how Willie Brown had the bridge route changed a little for a bed and breakfast on Treasure Island...
they should send him the bill!
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