‘Watch’ keeping eye on TTC

Waxahachie Daily Light ^ | September 16, 2006 | Anthony Trojan

[BobL]

Sorry Tol - I've just had it with this guy.

If he thinks it's fair for people to pay 25 cents per mile to drive on some roads, and 2 cents per mile to drive on other roads, that's his choice. I just don't have the energy to debate it any more with him.

[1rudeboy]

I just don't have the energy to debate it any more with him.

Like you ever did? LOL

[Dog Gone]

I'm not too keen on the toll lanes down the center of the freeway, either. That's the first time an Interstate Highway will have toll lanes.

But the impact on businesses is bigger than you realize. One of my favorite restaurants has already been demolished and will be part of the frontage road.

[basil]

Maybe I don't live in Houston, and wasn't impacted by this freeway. But I know my brother was---all of the houses behind him--between him and the Katy Freeway were taken as imminent domain--they got paid for their homes and land. My brother got a high wall built between his back yard and the Katy Freeway--seriously bringing down the value of his property.

We only hear about the folks who's land is taken (and compensated for.)

PS--bigger is not always better. The number of wrecks on the Katy Freeway is beyond belief--most of which tie up traffic for hours. How has this made traffic flow better?

When we have to go into Houston, we take the toll roads., whenever possible--as well as back roads, or leser traveled roads. We aren't always hell bent for leather to see who can drive the fasted or tailgate the closest.

[1rudeboy]

If he thinks it's fair for people to pay 25 cents per mile to drive on some roads, and 2 cents per mile to drive on other roads, that's his choice.

Folks should pay for the roads they actually drive on? Unfair!

[ARealMothersSonForever]

You seem to think that it's more fair that people only pay for the use of certain roads - and they get a free ride on other roads.

There is one minor flaw in the "free ride" logic. Every person that drives on any road (even private roads) pays a tax for their fuel, as well as a tax for vehicle registration, and a tax for the county road and bridge fee, and a tax for vehicle inspection. I would agree with your position IF those that used a tollway were granted a tax rebate on all other taxes. That is simply not the case.

[Dog Gone]

If you're going to make the argument that Texas doesn't need any new roads ever again, or that that we don't need to widen any of them, go ahead and make that argument. I'll wait.

But make sure that you provide compelling evidence that the number of vehicles in Texas will decrease in the future or at least remain the same.

[BobL]

"Texas is still required to go through the open bidding process for any construction project."

If you're right, then maybe I'm wasting my time.

I don't know. But I do have this from an opposition site, purporting to quote from the San Antonio Express News:

"The group, led by Cintra of Spain, will build and operate the corridor 's first segment of toll roads from Dallas to San Antonio."

http://corridornews.blogspot.com/2004/12/perry-this-is-powerful-powerful-stuff.html

It sounds pretty clear to me.

[BobL]

Maybe we're closer than we think. I would agree to tolls if they represented the true per-mile costs to build and operate the highway - rather than the monopoly numbers (on the order of 5 times the amount to build and operate) that Cintra has gotten away with thus far. And I would want that to apply to all public roads.

I just cannot see how to do that without Big Brother in my car.

[Dog Gone]

I guess things have changed since 2004.

[BobL]

"One of my favorite restaurants has already been demolished and will be part of the frontage road."

Bummer. Sorry about that. I know how it hurts. I lost a bowling alley that I grew up with when it turned into a health club.

Thanks for somewhat agreeing on the toll lanes. I'd really like to find some common ground. The only topic on this site that I get into arguments on is this TTC - everything else that I post is fine.

[Dog Gone]

It doesn't hurt that much. The restaurant charged too much. $4.00 for a tiny cup of soup is robbery, no matter how tasty it is.

[BobL]

Here's another. It looks like this phase is a done deal. Luckily in Houston, the (very likely) non-compete clause will not lock down our highways, as the road stays clear of this area. If the plan is somehow stopped now (with or without Perry as Gov), that would be ideal.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/13632689.htm

[veracityfirst]

You know I should have checked first. A few months back on the SPP site you could read about what our gov intended. A merging of Mexico, US, and Canada. One big North America. Talked of a road starting in Mexico going through US and through part of Canada. They have changed the wording quite a bit. The date on the document was March 5 2005. Did anyone else ever see it??? My guess is that the Trans Texas corridor has everything to do with it.

[BobL]

Justice served - then.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

That's the first time an Interstate Highway will have toll lanes.

Not totally accurate. I have paid tolls on I-95 in New Jersey and New York. Here is a bit of the itenerary: Time Mile Instruction For Toward 9:06 AM 4.5 *Toll road* Merge onto I-276 [Pennsylvania Tpke] 32.4 mi 9:38 AM 37.0 Entering New Jersey 9:38 AM 37.0 *Toll road* Road name changes to New Jersey Turnpike Ext 5.3 mi 9:43 AM 42.3 *Toll road* Take Ramp (LEFT) onto New Jersey Tpke 18.1 mi New Jersey Turnpike North / New York 9:58 AM 60.4 *Toll road* Road name changes to I-95 [New Jersey Tpke] 38.1 mi

[BobL]

No, this is different.

The NJT, along with a bunch of other toll roads in the East and Midwest were already built and grandfathered into the Interstate System, and allowed to keep tolls. These I-10 lanes are new lanes being added to a formerly totally free Interstate.

By the way, once Gov. Cortezone sells off the NJT and Garden State Parkway to "Private Investors" expect the tolls to double (as soon as their agreement permits it), as the effects of a monopoly will be felt there also.

[Dog Gone]

I guess I stand corrected. When the Katy Freeway expansion was initially proposed, I had breakfast with John Culberson, the congressman who spearheaded it. That's what he told me, and maybe it was true at the time.

[BobL]

You (and him) are still right. This was a new concept at the time. Hopefully it won't be the nightmare of 85 cent per mile travel that it is in California now (which was done on a state freeway).

[ARealMothersSonForever]

It would be the first Interstate Highway built as a toll road. Semantics I guess.