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In 1997, a proposal was made to extend the Westpark Toll Road into Fort Bend County and another proposal was recently made that Fort Bend County construct, as tolled facilities, the main lane overpasses of the only existing portion of the Grand Parkway (Segment “D”). Taxpayer/residents would still be able to drive on a “free” Grand Parkway, they would have to stop at 11 different intersections that have, or will have, signal lights or stop signs.

There were several reasons for these proposals:
1. Current state and federal gas taxes will cover only about one-third of needed new roads and even less for the fastest growing precinct (approaching 10% annually) in the second-fastest growing county in Texas.
2. Most all of the state gas tax goes to maintaining existing roads.
3. By using “local” funds, instead of federal or state dollars, which come with strings attached, we are able to build the roads much sooner and for less money. Counties are funded almost exclusively by property taxes, which in my and many others’ opinions are already too high. Tolls are the only other source of funding for counties to build more roads.
4. Currently, Texas gets back from the federal government about 88 cents for every
dollar Texas taxpayers send to Washington, the other 12 cents goes to projects like the “Big Dig” in Boston and if federal gas taxes are increased 20 cents Texas will be lucky to get back 17 cents. Additionally, the Houston Region gets back, on average, about 90 cents of every dollar of state gas tax or of the 88 cents that Austin gets back from the federal government. That percentage is currently higher because of the improvements to I 10, but this is the exception to a general rule and will most likely end when I 10 is completed.
5. Toll roads by their nature are “user paid facilities”. If you do not wish to “pay” for the road you do not have to use it, there are alternative roads. If you do use the road, you pay for it.
6. The county will build a “toll road” only when it is feasible, that is where projected revenues cover projected expenses and debt service.

I am unaware of any local or state official who proposes to “toll” existing free roads. Most believe to do so is fundamentally unfair to the taxpayer/resident or they know doing so would be the end of their political career. A state agency, such as the Texas Department of Transportation, is able to float “trial balloons” about tolling certain roads, because the heads of those departments do not stand for election.

There are no current proposals to toll existing federal or state highways. There are proposals to toll “added capacity”, similar to the proposal for the existing Segment of the Grand Parkway.

The state has already stated that, where feasible, new roads will be toll roads, including the rest of the Grand Parkway.

There is a move to embrace “user-paid facilities” such as toll roads because of the resistance to higher taxes.

It is the Democrats, like those in Boston, who want someone else to fund the roads they drive on.

Well said! Here, here and cheers!

Except for the Boston part. We had a big fight over that and, as usual Kennedy won. We keep trying; God bless the Mass. GOP!

Why are you guys in denial? Have you read what's going on in Virginia with I-81 and Pennsylvania with I-80. Pick up a Rand McNally in about 3 years and you'll see that these freeways will be toll roads.

The move to toll SH 249 was sure-as-heck real, but it's conveniently ignored by others in this discussion. There's also a virtual coup taking place in Austin because highway sections under construction that were promised to be freeways are being tolled.

Now, I'll go point by point on this:

1. Yes - current gas taxes are insufficient. That does not mean that the gas tax is a failure. Maybe we do something real creative and raise it to where it should be (another 25 to 35 cents per gallon, or so). That way everyone pays who drives, rather than socking it to people who use one type of road over another.

2. That's why you raise the taxes. Adding 30 cents per gallon will cost a driver with a 20 MPG car to pay another 1.5 cents per mile, not the 15 to 20 cents that Perry is shafting us with.

3. Counties do not have to build limited access highways. The state had an excellent record on that, that is until this governor saw them as a giant piggy bank for his friends.

4. As for the feds, we don't need them. The state can handle things - without punishing the people who need to drive.

5. "Facilities" You gave it away. You are either a transportation planner for the governor or someone on the receiving end of this cash grab. No one who has to really shell out money to drive on these roads looks at these highways as "facilities". To the others in this thread, please keep Mr. Meyers comments in context, given his inside connections.

6. I don't want them building any Toll Roads.

I love the logic you guys have - you guys are able to say with a straight face that you're not raising taxes, you're giving us options. It's like telling people that their property taxes didn't go up, since the rates haven't changed. Nice try. At least I'm willing to call a tax what it is.

And on a philosophical note, I almost got over my intense hatred towards toll roads. My wife had started a business that looked promising and I figured that if I could allocate an extra $5,000 per year (for both of us), I'd just stick a transponder on my car and simply buy my way to mental peace.

Well, the business didn't work out, so I'm back to trying to protect my wallets from these cash grabs.