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CA: Traffic congestion taking its toll (Toll Roads and Bonds -- Prop 1B)
Capitol Weekly ^ | July 20, 2006 | John Howard

Posted on 07/20/2006 8:30:56 AM PDT by calcowgirl

California is on the verge of sharply expanding its 117 miles of toll roads to accommodate trucks, expedite freight and ease the pain of the daily commute in the state's most traffic-clogged areas. The game plan, which is fraught with controversy because private companies will build the roads and collect the tolls, is the result of an agreement reached earlier this year by the governor and the Legislature.

Few in California doubt that traffic congestion needs to be eased. Using toll roads to do it is not so popular, however, and bringing in private vendors to run the roads is less popular still. But even critics of the agreement say public funds are hard to get and that such a "public-private partnership" offers a way to raise money quickly and get the roads built. In the end, the public is tired of getting stuck in traffic.

"I think there is a hope, if not a belief, that if they can get private sector or other sources of funding it will relieve the pressure," said Bruce Blanning of the Professional Engineers in California Government, which opposed the toll-road plan.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers authorized four privately run toll roads--two in Southern California and two in the north state--in legislation authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez that Schwarzenegger signed in May.

The bill, AB 1467, which drew little attention at the time, also authorized up to four new high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane projects, where high-occupancy vehicle lanes, known as HOV or "diamond lanes," are transformed into HOT lanes, with the cost of tolls pegged to the level of traffic congestion. Unlike the toll roads, these toll lanes would be operated by the government.

The specific toll-road projects have not yet been identified. But private and Capitol officials who are familiar with the issue believe the new tollways, carrying price tags in the hundreds of millions of dollars range, are likely to include an addition to I-710, which links the port zone to inland Los Angeles; new toll lanes or a separate roadway paralleling I-680 at the Sunol Grade; and a roadway paralleling I-580 from the Bay Area to the Central Valley. Other possibilities include expanding U.S. 101 in Marin County north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The projects would be approved locally, then by the California Transportation Commission, which sets long-term transportation policy, and by Caltrans. Final approval of the projects and lease agreements would be required by the Legislature. Attempts to have the Democrat-controlled Legislature approve each contract in floor votes was rejected by the Núñez.

Instead, contracts will be presented to the Legislature for a 60-day review, similar to gaming contracts and labor MOUs, and will take effect automatically unless the Legislature intervenes.

None of the projects has been approved, although each has been under discussion for years. For example, the Alameda Corridor revamp in Southern California, a mammoth $1.2 billion project to expedite rail deliveries and ease traffic, has been in the works for two decades. The international interests who have finance toll-road development in other states, including Macquarie of Australia and the Spanish consortium Cintra, are both interested in California's toll-road plans. Macquarie recently hired California Strategies, a prominent consulting and lobbying firm.

"The thing is, with the public-private partnership you get the money quicker," said Senate GOP leader Dick Ackerman, who favors the arrangement.

"Like that [toll road] expansion in Orange County, it would still not be done if we were waiting for public monies. The private sector came in and built that thing, and built it in record time," Ackerman said. "They had the ability to get financing quicker, and they did it."

One toll road, a project authorized by legislation authored 17 years ago, is just getting built now--Route 125 in San Diego. Statewide, a half-dozen agencies operate 117 miles of toll roads and bridges in several counties, including San Diego, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa and Orange. Nearly half of the state's toll road mileage, 51 miles, is located in Orange County, plus an additional 16 miles is poised to be built.

Núñez 's toll-roads bill emerged easily from both houses as an accompaniment to the $19.9 billion transportation bond on the November ballot. But AB 467 is separate from the bonds, does not require a public vote and can be put into effect regardless of whether the bonds are approved. Opposition to the bill included an unusual mix of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans; both camps said they had philosophical problems with the bill.

"It hands over vital public-transportation corridors to private monopolies. That is totally unacceptable," said Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, the vice chairman of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. "The fatal flaw with [private] toll roads is that the owners require the state to either agree not to expand the adjacent highways, or to reimburse them if the state does expand the state highways. If we can't expand the public highway system that the public has bought and paid for without paying tribute to a private interest, we shouldn't do it."

Other states looking at public-private partnerships include Indiana and Texas, and there the results have prompted political battles. Texas, for example, is in the midst of deciding a major expansion to its toll-road system. Does Texas have any lessons for California?

"What I would say to California is that you need a safety valve in your locally elected officials. You need to keep them as a big part of your transportation planning," said Texas state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who served on the Texas House Transportation Committee and is major critic of Texas transportation policy.

"And remember, once you get into billions of dollars of public funds, once something is written down, you're in it for a long time. They [the toll road owners] will control everything, and it will no longer be controlled by local officials," Pickett said.

John Howard is Managing Editor of Capitol Weekly


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: ab1467; ab467; calinitiatives; cintra; infrastructure; macquarie; prop1b; tollroads; transtexascorridor
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To: Deek
Do you disagree with what he says? If so, why? It sounded pretty sensible.
"What I would say to California is that you need a safety valve in your locally elected officials. You need to keep them as a big part of your transportation planning," said Texas state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who served on the Texas House Transportation Committee and is major critic of Texas transportation policy.

"And remember, once you get into billions of dollars of public funds, once something is written down, you're in it for a long time. They [the toll road owners] will control everything, and it will no longer be controlled by local officials," Pickett said.


21 posted on 07/20/2006 10:16:22 AM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: texastoo
If it were me, I would prefer the Democrats and Republicans fighting these contracts on the floor.

Nunez is our lefty Democrat Assembly Speaker.
He doesn't want to air his dirty laundry in public.
I'm sure these contracts will add to the stack.

22 posted on 07/20/2006 10:18:55 AM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: calcowgirl

I agree with him 100%. We have always had the greatest system of Freeways in the world, and it's about the only thing the state and Federal government deliver in return for my tax money. I would hate that California end up like the Northeast, which I thought was a complete joke in terms of toll roads.

In fact we should charger northeasterners a fee just to drive on our freeways.


23 posted on 07/20/2006 10:48:42 AM PDT by Smogger (It's the WOT Stupid)
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To: texastoo
Gov. Rick Perry and Cintra still have hidden their contracts from the public who are expected to pay for them. UnAmerican to say the least.

Here are the details of the "secret" agreement
24 posted on 07/20/2006 10:49:11 AM PDT by Deek
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To: calcowgirl
Do you disagree with what he says?

In Texas, the Regional Mobility Authorities (RMAs) have significant local control. The RMAs are formed at a "regional" level, and have near complete say in transportation for their region. The irony here is that Picket opposed creation of the RMA for his constituents.

On the surface his statements sound reasonable. They don't, however, match his policy position.
25 posted on 07/20/2006 10:58:37 AM PDT by Deek
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To: NormsRevenge

Dragnet theme... Dump De Dumb Bump!!! Dump De Dumb Bump, BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOMP!!!


26 posted on 07/20/2006 12:10:34 PM PDT by SierraWasp (Memo To: Uncle Sam Re: Terrorists, Insurgents and Illegal Combatants...NoUniforms... No Prisoners!!!)
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To: hedgetrimmer; calcowgirl; Carry_Okie; NormsRevenge
That is a prime question! I think we out to be insisting on it, quite frankly. Since we haven't bellered loudly enough to make it happen... look what's happened to our legitimate choice! We can't even be the consistent 13% this time! WASS!!!

Thanks to the new "Moderate Majority" or whatever they call themselves, we can only support Tom for a practically nothing office and just listen to him say correct things and just nod our heads in futile agreement!!! We have NO VOICE through Shifty Schwartzie!!!

Worse yet, we cannot even slow down his malicious mischeif!!!

27 posted on 07/20/2006 12:17:27 PM PDT by SierraWasp (Memo To: Uncle Sam Re: Terrorists, Insurgents and Illegal Combatants...NoUniforms... No Prisoners!!!)
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To: calcowgirl
Texas state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, who served on the Texas House Transportation Committee and is major critic of Texas transportation policy.

"And remember, once you get into billions of dollars of public funds, once something is written down, you're in it for a long time. They [the toll road owners] will control everything, and it will no longer be controlled by local officials," Pickett said.

This is NOT a Democrat or Republican issue. Hopefully, you can keep this locally. Texas has been lied to, and mislead by the Governor.

28 posted on 07/20/2006 12:39:39 PM PDT by texastoo ("trash the treaties")
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To: SierraWasp; hedgetrimmer; calcowgirl; Smartass

This article is about a year old but it is an eyeopener regarding toll roads.

"Because before any population can be controlled, government must know where that population is at any specific time."

http://corridornews.blogspot.com/2005/06/before-any-population-can-be.html


29 posted on 07/20/2006 1:42:51 PM PDT by texastoo ("trash the treaties")
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To: texastoo
Thanks for ping...
To bad we can't stick a homing device or GPS chip up
our elected officials butts, to ensure they're working every minute of the day for the American people.
Now that would be comprehensive progress.

 

30 posted on 07/20/2006 2:02:47 PM PDT by Smartass ("In God We Trust" - "An informed and knowledgeably citizen is the best defense against tyranny")
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To: Smartass
To bad we can't stick a homing device or GPS chip up our elected officials butts, to ensure they're working every minute of the day for the American people.
Now that would be comprehensive progress.

LOL Comprehensive progress...LOL Did you notice how Clinton messed up Bush 41's plan?LOL

31 posted on 07/20/2006 2:12:12 PM PDT by texastoo ("trash the treaties")
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To: calcowgirl

Right again, Tom.


32 posted on 07/20/2006 2:31:57 PM PDT by Czar ( StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: texastoo

Yikes! Its always worse than you think it is, isn't it?


33 posted on 07/20/2006 2:51:21 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer ("I'm a millionaire thanks to the WTO and "free trade" system--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
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To: calcowgirl
Not only a bad idea but also dangerous.

Fascism has been tried by several cultures in recorded history. It always failed and ALWAYS led to rebellion and bloodshed, regardless of the political system operative within those cultures prior to the experimentation.

The words of George Santayana, penned almost 100 years ago, ring in my ears.

34 posted on 07/20/2006 3:06:40 PM PDT by Amerigomag
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To: texastoo
Yeah, the word "comprehensive" is a heavily BS word
being used today. Supposedly as the ultimate means to an end.

Clearly, Bill Clinton left this country with trailer trash that will
take years to collect and clean up...if ever.

Click for Phoenix, Arizona Forecast

 

35 posted on 07/20/2006 3:08:47 PM PDT by Smartass ("In God We Trust" - "An informed and knowledgeably citizen is the best defense against tyranny")
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To: EagleUSA; calcowgirl
Before 1978 California consistently had the best roads in the country. Somewhere around that time everything changed. Some people say it was because of Prop 13, but the real reason, was that Gov "Moonbeam" did not like cars or freeways and starved CALTRANS.

Some years ago Orange County got tired of all the bad roads and passed Prop. M. That raised the sales tax here in Orange County, the proceeds to be spent on roads (and stupid stuff like buses and toll roads.) However our freeways are being maintained and widened.
36 posted on 07/20/2006 3:13:09 PM PDT by NathanR (Après moi, le deluge.)
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To: calcowgirl

Privately-run toll roads wouldn't bother me if it weren't for those non-compete clauses. It doesn't have to be that way; just require new transportation projects or improvements that compete with the toll road to be tolled as well. Instead, the agreements tend to have an all-or-nothing mentality; competing routes simply cannot be improved, period.


37 posted on 07/20/2006 4:47:03 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Going partly violently to the thing 24-7!)
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To: SZonian
We have some clowns in Kern Cty who want to raise our sales tax by .5% to fund highway projects and mass transit.

Road construction is getting more expensive. If these "clowns" haven't diverted transportation monies to other items, I say, go for it, unless you like the idea of tolls everywhere you turn.

38 posted on 07/20/2006 4:49:58 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Going partly violently to the thing 24-7!)
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To: calcowgirl

Toll roads are ok, as long as there is a non-toll alternative on an essentially parallel route.


39 posted on 07/20/2006 5:35:09 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Atheist and Fool are synonyms; Evolution is where fools hide from the sunrise)
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To: kellynla
If everyone who said they were going to vote for him for governor in 2003 had actually voted for him; he would have been!

And if everyone who claims to $upport him would contribute as well, he just might win.

Just now put my new McCLINTOCK bumper sticker on my car ~ looks mighty fine!

40 posted on 07/20/2006 6:19:49 PM PDT by b9 ("the [evil Marxist liberal socialist Democrat Party] alternative is unthinkable" ~ Jim Robinson)
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