Posted on 08/13/2006 10:32:56 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
What do the federal interstate highway system, the Golden Gate Bridge and D-FW International Airport all have in common?
All are indispensable projects safely transporting millions of families and tons of products every year. All also were bitterly attacked and criticized during their planning and construction phases.
Today, our state transportation system is at a crossroads.
Texas is the leading exporting state, the second biggest manufacturing state, and has added more than 600,000 jobs in the past 34 months.
Annually, Texans spend 3.7 billion hours sitting in traffic. Unless we change, it will only get worse. During the next 25 years, Texas road usage is projected to increase 214 percent. Yet road capacity will increase only 6 percent.
It is imperative that Texas expedite transportation improvements in the interest of public safety, job creation and overall quality of life.
The Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC-35) utilizes many new financing and construction tools to get needed roadways built years sooner, without increasing state gasoline or sales taxes.
By harnessing private-sector investment and charging motorists a fee, Texas can build a necessary new road much faster.
Texas’ disaster and hurricane response would dramatically improve with the Trans Texas Corridor and other new transportation projects.
Safer infrastructure means faster evacuations and fewer lives lost.
Economic boost
Thousands of new Texas jobs, higher property values and resulting economic development would follow the corridor route.
Employers tend to migrate to wherever it’s easier to transport workers, raw materials and products.
On the subject of toll roads, modern technology means no more required stopping at toll booths. Toll-tags allow for convenient and high-speed collection.
TTC-35 also would benefit those who don’t want to pay the toll.
Every car or truck using TTC-35 would be one less vehicle on I-35, thereby increasing its safety and convenience.
In addition, free roads, parallel to most toll roads, would remain a viable option for those who choose not to pay.
The State of Texas would own these new roads, but private companies and investors would pay to construct and operate them.
New state laws enhance private property protections and allow local communities and landowners to share in the benefits. As a result, billions in new, largely untapped private investments would pour into Texas to improve our transportation infrastructure, easing congestion, increasing commuter choice and improving highway safety.
The debate continues. The democratic process is working. But don’t let anyone tell you that business as usual can improve Texas transportation. People and jobs are migrating to Texas. We must have the roads and infrastructure to carry them safely and efficiently.
Donna Williams is a Dallas-based aviation engineer and a board member of Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation www.bettertexasroads.org.
Where's the congestion in Texas coming from? Where's the well-managed toll road in Texas that has alleviated congestion?
Where is the proof of concept that this is a good solution to "congestion"?
I remember one of the original Indiana Tollroad threads where a poster suggested that Cintra, after putting-up a boatload of cash, was going to allow its investment (the road) to fall into disrepair, then abandon the project altogether.
Here's a basic proof of concept for you. If a private firm spends $6 billion up front, and another $11 billion (don't quote me on the exact figure) to complete an investment (the road), it expects a return (the tolls) greater than that which it invested. Or at least a return greater than other investment opportunities available.
The Sam Houston Tollway around Houston would be the example you don't want to acknowledge.
Where is any road, toll or otherwise in Texas that alleviates congesting when the growth is there?.... Still searching for a red herring to fish with? It makes not a whits difference if the road is toll or otherwise when the growth occurs they get used and become congested. Are you to blind to see the growth that's occuring in Texas? Where are the roads, infrastructure coming from to deal with the growth?
Maybe if Texas showed they can manage one of the sources of gridlock (illegal immigration),
Dog Gone, you can provide facts AND read my mind. That's an amazing skill you have there.
Now for the next question: why is there such a great need for people to live dozens of miles away from their work (and commute)?
I'm not saying it's a simple issue, but toll roads are an exepensive band aid, at best.
The guiding principle is this:
New roads are bad.
They're even badder if they connect to the BORDER.
Once you understand this concept, the rest becomes clear.
I'm not saying it's a simple issue, but toll roads are an exepensive band aid, at best.
They're even badder if they connect to the BORDER.
Yep, add in the fereiners, and this is the end of our country as we know it.
Foreign money financed most of the railway systems built during the 19th Century. Until WWI, London and Paris were the major finance centers in the world. There was a reasonw hy the company that underwrote the Union Pacific was called the Credit Mobilier.
But why make such a large tempting target that is not needed?
None.
Don't put all the congestion issues into one bucket, because they won't all be solved the same way. The fact that they all currently DO end up on the same roads is due to poor city planning. Separate freight, commuters, and interurban traffic. Look at each group separately.
Is there more trucking coming through Texas? Why? Is it doing more than its fair share of destroying roads? If so, increase taxes on freight, especially if it originates outside the US.
Why are people commuting 10, 20, 30 miles to work? Are they adding more than their fair share of pollution sitting stuck in traffic? If so, offer tax incentives to businesses that are willing to locate closer to their workers, or to workers who are willing to car pool. If they aren't willing to do any of these, then build a toll road that grants exemptions to car poolers.
Also, make it so that people don't feel compelled to flee to the suburbs. Enforce laws and protect property values. Let people transfer their kids out of ANY school system, not just a repeat offender. Discourage illegal immigrations. Punish employers of illegal imigrants and DO NOT devote tax dollars to remedial English courses.
Make traffic light roads well-timed, fast, and accessible.
Reduce sprawl by reducing the need to sprawl. Reduce interstate freight by allowing American manufacturers to compete on a level playing field with their Chinese counterparts. Make a Chinese Bill of Rights a part of any subsequent trade agreements. If not, stop sending them our capital and letting them ship in their goods.
I hope that helps. Do not trade with anyone you would not want to be governed by.
Do not trade with anyone you would not want to be governed by.
How can you say it's not needed?
Look at how crowded I-35 is today. It's needed now. Why wouldn't it be needed 50 years from now?
Perry may be a dumbass, but Kinky takes the cake. And we will never trust a woman who can not keep Keeton-McClellan-Rylander-Strayhorn or whatever the heck it is gonna be next month, straight. She aint no Ma Ferguson.
It is interesting to see so many non-Texans worried about our roadways. Methinks they may have an agenda and interest that is NOT what will be best for Texas. Kinda makes me think we ought to make it twice as big, and three times longer just to hear the Yankees squeal about how much federal funding goes in.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.