Posted on 07/02/2006 1:22:43 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
UPDATE with environment report, financing details, tariffs structure
MADRID (AFX) - A consortium led by Cintra Concesiones Infraestructuras SA said it has signed its first contract to build a section of the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road project in the US and will invest 1.3 bln usd.
In a statement, Cintra said the 50-year concession is to design, construct and operate segments 5 and 6 of the SH 130 motorway between Austin and Seguin.
The consortium is 65 pct controlled by Cintra and 35 pct by local constructor Zachry.
Cintra announced the contract in Dec 2004, and said it expected to develop 6 bln usd of motorway projects over the next five years as part of the project.
The final approval of the contract is subject to environmental approval which may come within 6-8 months, Cintra said.
Financing for the project is yet to be finalized though the constructor is expecting to pay with 20-30 pct of its own funds and 70-80 pct debt.
Cintra added that the tariff scheme for the motorway will be 0.125 usd/mile for light vehicles and 0.50 usd/mile for heavy vehicles in 2006, and will be increased in-line with Texas' GDP per capita each year.
They are contracted with Genesis. EZ Pass is a separate company.
Chicago's SKYWAY is now a PRIVATELY HELD TOLL BRIDGE and yes, EZ-PASS works on it. And NO, we haven't had a single problem with our billing, nor any records, since the SKYWAY was sold.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh!
I've seen three or four people suggest (presumably with a straight face, although if some of them post from DNC headquarters probably not) that Spanish "control" of the tollroad is a threat to national security in case we need to move troops and equipment.
what's more troubling is one who accuses others of "tin foil issues" in light of current events regarding our Politician's (local/state/fed) behavior and actions.
Lately, nothing would surprise me about how evil and corrupt our "leaders" are and what they would do to harm our Country.
I may look into buying Alcoa stock soon myself.
I don't know and frankly, I find all of this ridiculous hysteria disturbing.
so what's a guy from conneticut doing shilling for the TTC. you may not like where you live but it certainly better than living behind walls like they do in latin america.
in fact, that's the real model we're talking about. its a matter of either building walls at the border or walls around your neighborhood like they do south of the border.
the current model is that the USA is susposed to become more like south america rather than vice versa. This is bad deal for americans.
The hysterics have turned FR into a DU clone.
I'm beginning to wonder if some of the opposition to a privately operated tollroad stems from the feeling that other roads are "free," in the sense that some folks think health care in Canada is "free."
We don't have a say over anything here in Texas.
Perry and his cronies will do quite well, and we'll be stuck paying hundreds of dollars in tolls just to drive across Texas.
Can't wait to vote against that bastard.
Do YOU travel much?
Since you appear to be so worried, might I suggest that you not ever leave your home? You'll feel so much better. Oh and build yourself a bunker, while you're at it! LOL
Yeah, yeah...n00b. Tell all of that to someone who is as uneducated and gullible as you are.
In egalitarian societies, all pay/contribute and all get to use the items that are paid for.
Extra people mean extra taxes being paid or extra people to pay the new taxes.
Borrowing against the future is not conservative. Paying as you go is. Only buying what you can afford is.
Yeah, I'm middle class and proud of it. I try to live within my means.
No offense, but your arguments remind me of a teenager who gives about 25 reasons why they just have to have something, no matter that they can't afford it, no matter who it hurts, because well, they just HAVE to have it now.
Selling our highways to another country for 50 years is not good for Texas--or any other state. Experience with toll roads in states that have had them for many years shows that the tolls don't go away. Once that tax money starts rolling in, the politicians can't bring themselves to turn off the spigot. With taxes, or budgeting for highways, there is an ending. The budget item finally gets paid off. Yes, the gas taxes continue, but that is because the roads need continual maintenance. Toll roads are forever, sucking the money out of the people daily.
You seem to be saying that anyone who disagrees with you is not a normal Texan. If you think we all agree on everything, you either haven't lived here long, or you have a fatally flawed view of conservatism. Or, maybe you want to "win" the argument by attacking the legitimacy of the one you disagree with. Either way, I'm not attacking you in the same way. This is a serious argument, a serious situation, one that will affect Texas for many years. I respect your right to disagree. Let's stay on point.
Out of simple curiousity, did you choose "Lithuanian" at random, or did you know I'm of Lithuanian descent?
A regressive tax is one that hurts the poor more than it hurts the rich. Toll roads do that by definition. Do you truly not understand this?
I suspect that you are treating the construction of any road as a one-time, fixed investment.
Ouch! Totally random...I was looking for an obscure (I don't mean that offensively) nation to reference.
I see that. It is a Partnership Cintra created, http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/CintraTAB_2_ProjectCharacteristics.pdf . That does not mean that Cintra doesn't have that data collected. EZ Pass is just billing for them.
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