OK, I'll bite...
Are you pushing for no roads, or higher taxes. I think it is safe to assume the roads will not build themselves.
These are tolls on existing roads, already paid for with taxpayer money. It is happening in the Dallas area as well.
They want to charge toll on roads already funded, and on roads already built. Only in Austin Texas the Liberal Cesspool of Texas.
So, do you advocate tolls on EVERY road, so as to share the tax burden incurred in order to build roads throughout the state? Wouldn't that make freeloaders out of all drivers who do not use toll roads? Using your rationale, an entrance fee should be required to enter any government building because, let's face it, they don't build themselves.
Tolls lead to (more) corruption. You don't think any unconnected person is going to land a $40,000 salary (loaded w/ benefits) collecting quarters, do you? Nope, those jobs are for "friends." And you don't think those "reasonable" tolls won't increase frequently, do you?
Bottom line - the gov't has plenty of money. They just need to figure out how not to waste it.
In Austin I am surprised that there is a group fighting the toll roads for EXISTING roads, being the socialist cesspool that it is.
In Houston the MSM has already announced that any new roads built will be toll roads.
That is exactly why I refuse to use ANY toll road. My taxes helped build the roads.....not gonna let them double-dip me.
There is one stretch of toll road here named the Westpark Tollway. It runs for about a 5-mile stretch and costs $2.50 one way. Some fools are actually paying it.
Several years ago there weren't enough people using the Sam Houston tollway so the "authorities" said, without embarrassment, ( paraphrased, ) "There aren't enough people using the tollway so we are going to INCREASE the toll." Is that total insanity or what?
I for one would like to pay for a road only once. I would like to see roads to be built with bonds. (a way to set aside a set portion of future tax revenue)
I would like to see politicians with the courage to tell us, hey solving traffic will require building this road and that will cost X dollars. Not pass the buck by creating a regional authority so they can play the blame game, and then tell us, it will cost no new taxes, just tolls.
-- lates
-- jrawk
We are pushing for an election. There are other methods than toll booths on existing highways.