Posted on 05/09/2005 10:48:59 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
With cash-strapped California slashing transportation system spending, support has started to grow in Sacramento to allow private companies to partner with Caltrans to build toll roads to help drive the Golden State out of gridlock. Freeways would remain free, but new roads that otherwise might never have a chance of being constructed with the state's current budget problems could be built with private money, and users would pay a toll to drive on them.
Legislators from both sides of the aisle have been gravitating to the plan, backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as they seek new ways to pay for billion-dollar improvements with scarce public dollars.
"That is really, in my judgment, a cornerstone of some of the things we're trying to do," said Will Kempton, Schwarzenegger's director of the state Department of Transportation. "It will allow us to attract private investment in transportation facilities to the state of California."
Legislation for the plan, AB 850, is part of Schwarzenegger's "Go California" package which aims to allow toll roads, streamline construction and halt future raiding of transportation funds to shore up the state's general fund budget.
The bill expands on what had been a pilot program in California to build a limited number of toll roads, including those on the Riverside Freeway, by allowing Caltrans to partner with companies to build new routes.
The state would own the new roads, but firms would be able to charge tolls for up to 35 years, after which control would be turned over to the state.
All projects would still be required to go through the current approval channels before they could break ground.
"This isn't going to be a process where some private builder is simply going to put a freeway through Reseda or Tarzana," said Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills, a co-author of the legislation.
"All this is, is a financing mechanism. It's needed because we have a shortfall of hundreds of billions of dollars in needed transportation infrastructure investment, and so our investment is going to need to come from federal dollars, state dollars - and from private investors, where we can get it.
"This is an innovative way of attracting more transportation investment in transportation projects."
Richman had embarked on similar legislation but joined forces with Democratic state Assemblyman Joseph Canciamilla of Martinez, the lead author of AB 850.
The bill won bipartisan support in the assembly transportation committee last month and is moving its way through the capitol.
Supporters in Southern California envision new roads being built to help carry the load of traffic across the region including:
• HOV lanes that could double as toll roads for solo drivers willing to pay a fee
• Truck-only lanes, particularly coming from the ports
• Elevated expressways, double-decked over existing freeways
• Tunnels for specific areas, such as the route between L.A. and Palmdale.
"You're seeing these kinds of projects more and more - except in California," said George Passantino, director of government affairs at the Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based think tank that has long supported toll roads.
He said states across the nation have passed laws allowing such projects, and road-building firms are poised to enter the California market.
"For many, many years, we - particularly in the northern part of Los Angeles County - have just felt that congestion is inevitable, and we're just doomed to sit in traffic," he said. "These ideas give us hope that we can actually do something about this."
But the chairwoman of the Assembly's Transportation Committee, Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Carson, calls toll roads "elitist" and cast the lone opposing vote on her panel.
She says toll roads, which many have derisively dubbed "Lexus lanes," would benefit only those who can afford to pay to get out of gridlock.
"Assemblywoman Oropeza has a philosophical opposition to toll roads," said Ray Sotero, the assemblywoman's spokesman. "She thinks they're elitist and do not provide equal access to everyone. She thinks they're unfair to working people."
The bill also has been opposed by the Sierra Club, which wants caps on the number of new highways that could be built.
"The Sierra Club has no blanket position against toll roads," said Bill Allayaud, a director of the organization.
"We understand there's a lot of demand in the legislature to do something about the problem. So the state just needs to be as upfront as possible about what their plans are. That was our concern."
Others, though, are interested in the proposal and are working to address specific issues.
The Automobile Club of Southern California wants to ensure that those who carpool don't get bogged down if solo drivers are allowed to join for a fee.
"The legislature's starting to look at different ways to do things," said Michael Turner, a government relations manager with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which conceptually supports the bill but wants some concerns addressed.
"They're really looking at transportation and different things they can do for transportation. To the extent they're trying to get into this problem and solve it, we're appreciative and we'll work with them."
here is the article Drudge referenced last night
Sounds like common sense. They've been doing that in FL for years. All the new highways are toll roads. They do offer good routes to get around traffic congestion and you have a transponer in your car so you don't have to stop at the toll booth, too. You get a monthly statement in the mail.
Here's an idea; allow hybrid AND small, low cost, high mileage, low emission cars to use the HOV's. "Poof"; no more 'Lexus (only) Lanes'!
What a great idea. Get the gov out of public work projects, and let the private sector provide. Arnold is a genius.
There is hope for Cali and Arnold.
Deport the illegals and watch the freeways clear up dramatically...
it's really elementary my dear, Watson! LOL
well, hybrid with a Fast Pass....
you know running at 70 mph is the least efficient mode for a hybrid.
We'd have billions for maintenance and new road construction if the legislature and governor would stop stealing the gas tax money from the "trust" fund (never trust a government trust fund to be spent on what's it's supposedly for). They take that money and spend it on everything but roads. And the little that they leave ends up getting spent on stupid public transit projects that carry about a billionth of one percent of the people trying to get from A to B. Next time you're stuck on the freeway in your econobox wondering if you'll make it home before your kids are asleep, consider writing your legislator and reaming him/her a new one for wasting your taxes this way. Or continue on in sheep mode, your choice.
The first time this came up, I thought they were talking municipal toll roads. I think that was the basis of my objection, and I hadn't read the article yet. But I'm still not sure it will work, regardless.
Madness always takes its toll; that's why I try to have exact change ready.
Let me see if I have this straight. They've misspent or blown all the road taxes they've milked us out of, so now they're gonna have to build toll roads and continue to collect the road taxes to be spent on education and welfare.
"Deport the illegals and watch the freeways clear up dramatically..."
Actually, they wouldn't clear up that much, unless you're talking about an influx of light-skinned, light-haired illegal alien women who all drive monster-sized SUVs with CHROME(!) rino-guards while yammering on their cellphones...
About time California learned about turnpikes.
Actually, I think they should put toll plazas up on all the current freeways. And cite and arrest everyone with expired tags and no insurance.
If they kept it cheap, they could also eliminate all the high speed pursuits in the same action.
"Actually, they wouldn't clear up that much"
You have another thought coming...
All those Spanish speaking radio and television channels with Spanish speaking automobile & truck commercials aren't doing it as a hobby. There is HUGE PROFITS in sales and financing of those vehicles to people who can't speak English! They obviously aren't catering to English speaking American citizens now are they! LMAO
They allow this in France and it is great, you can pay a toll and it takes about 2/3 the time with a lot less traffic, it is not cheap. A very good idea.
"This is an innovative way of attracting more transportation investment in transportation projects."
The gas tax is 18 cents per gallon, and still they don't have enough money.
Unbelievable.
no, there will be a peso lane....a million pesos to pass go.
My Mom just does not get it??? I am sending her articles about L.A from FR! She constantly bitches at me that I do not visit enough, first she doesn't drive and has no clue how much BS I have to go through to get to her house on the Sorry L.A Freeways!
She can either move or see me 2x a year!
Frigin HATE L.A
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