Posted on 11/12/2006 3:14:29 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
As the controversy escalates regarding the Trans-Texas Corridor, I find alarming an Express-News article dated March 12, 2005. It is titled "State gets in fast lane to new toll road system" and subtitled "Go-ahead given for planning Trans-Texas Corridor segment."
It is the announcement of the signing of the first contract for this project, and it extols the "cutting-edge, bold and forward-looking" aspects of Rick Perry's plan.
Yet today, amid the discussions about farmland, foreign involvement and NAFTA, I hear little about the subject of one small paragraph near the end of this article. The paragraph reads, "Traffic levels on I-35 will help determine toll rates and limits on building competing public roads. A certain amount of congestion is needed to create a market for toll roads."
To ensure profitability, the contract can limit expansion of existing roads and/or the building of new roads well beyond the dimensions of the corridor. This would be most critical for I-35, but could also limit local efforts to improve road infrastructure and development extending for several miles either side of the corridor.
Potentially, this would create a recipe for disaster if too few drivers choose to avoid the tolls and continue to drive existing roads. Nearby municipalities could have their hands tied by this contract.
Also, considering the rising cost of transportation, the influx of and relocation of population, economic growth or downturn and environmental impacts, it is very difficult to predict transportation needs very far into the future.
Yet this contract will allow a private, for-profit venture, comprised in part by a foreign company, control over the road infrastructure for the next 50 years.
The citizens of Texas could, in their efforts to address local and regional transportation issues, be severely limited by a veto power provided by this long-term contract. The effect on Texas and its citizens could be potentially devastating.
As I approach 60, I realize that this control will continue until my 110th birthday. My 20-year-old granddaughter will be 70 years old at that time. It is difficult to understand how our government entities can value the concept of electing public officials for two six-year terms, yet hand over this kind of authority over the citizens of Texas for 50 years.
The legacy passed on by this very unwise decision is undeserved by future generations.
WoW, I'm impressed, basic economics, wow, I think I have enough hours for a major in economics. However, for your education, most truck drivers are paid on something called the household movers guide.
Next, for years there was a toll road through Richmond Va., then they build a bypass on the east side. Because it was more miles, the toll road people didn't fight it. So many trucks took the bypass the toll road was closed, the same thing happened in Jacksonville Fla. Maybe you should study the issue and stop the name calling. As I said your argument is not much different than a frog wouldn't bump his ass on the ground if he had wings. You are all pie in the sky and no facts.
WoW, I'm impressed, basic economics, wow, I think I have enough hours for a major in economics. However, for your education, most truck drivers are paid on something called the household movers guide.
Next, for years there was a toll road through Richmond Va., then they build a bypass on the east side. Because it was more miles, the toll road people didn't fight it. So many trucks took the bypass the toll road was closed, the same thing happened in Jacksonville Fla. Maybe you should study the issue and stop the name calling. As I said your argument is not much different than a frog wouldn't bump his ass on the ground if he had wings. You are all pie in the sky and no facts.
WoW, I'm impressed, basic economics, wow, I think I have enough hours for a major in economics. However, for your education, most truck drivers are paid on something called the household movers guide.
Next, for years there was a toll road through Richmond Va., then they build a bypass on the east side. Because it was more miles, the toll road people didn't fight it. So many trucks took the bypass the toll road was closed, the same thing happened in Jacksonville Fla. Maybe you should study the issue and stop the name calling. As I said your argument is not much different than a frog wouldn't bump his ass on the ground if he had wings. You are all pie in the sky and no facts.
WoW, I'm impressed, basic economics, wow, I think I have enough hours for a major in economics. However, for your education, most truck drivers are paid on something called the household movers guide.
Next, for years there was a toll road through Richmond Va., then they build a bypass on the east side. Because it was more miles, the toll road people didn't fight it. So many trucks took the bypass the toll road was closed, the same thing happened in Jacksonville Fla. Maybe you should study the issue and stop the name calling. As I said your argument is not much different than a frog wouldn't bump his ass on the ground if he had wings. You are all pie in the sky and no facts.
Check out Article I, Section 8, the last 2 paragraphs, which give the Legislature the authority to pass laws concerning certain public lands.
Of course, we are talking state lands here, not federal lands, and prior to 1865, that would have been recognized as solely a state issue.
I am referring to the federal court's interpretation of the US Constitution
Cite a case and I'll be happy to look at it.
No, I'm not, but since I regularly peruse articles about the TTC and have my own ping list, I don't need to be on that one, thanks.
You're welcome.
bump.
bump.
IMO, the state of Texas will probably slowly but surely build more and more bridges across the corridor where needed after it's finished.
The toll road in Richmond wasn't closed, it was simply made into a free road. It is part of I-95.
As I recall, the toll in Jacksonville was on a dinky little bridge on I-95. When I crossed it this August, the bridge was free and also being replaced. I presume the toll was removed because truckers and tourists were taking I-295 around the city.
Could you repeat that, please?
Over passes will be part of the corridor. Supposedly most farm to market roads will cross the corridor. Unlike interstates, there won't be an acces point to the corridor at these intersections. I doubt that county roads will cross.
Thanks
I'll be the first to admit that (as a visitor) I use the toll roads both in Dallas and Houston. (I also pay $$ to take the FL Turnpike when visiting there instead of using I-95). When I used to live in Miami (FL) I paid tolls to and from work, but they only amounted to 50 cents/day. Today's toll roads are a bit more significant if you had to pay them each day.
Whether we pay increased taxes or tolls (which, let's face it, are taxes) the real issues here are the cost, use off the tax/toll as intended, the continuance of the tax/toll beyond payoff, and private control of mass transportation. While I'm convinced that private industry can do most anything better than the government, there is a line (somewhere).
I guess it went over your head, but I was mocking your apparent failure to grasp basic economics.
Once again, nobody is forced to use a tollway, there are always free options. Each person or business makes a decision on whether the time savings and convenience are worth the cost. If a business CHOOSES to use the tollway, it is because there is some savings (or at least perceived by them) that the accountants/managers have concluded are worth the price of tolls. Thus there is no added cost to pass on to consumers, if tolls increased their costs they would avoid the tolls and use the free route. I earlier noted several examples of the types of cost savings a business might have that would lead them to CHOOSE to pay tolls. And for many businesses these cost savings are real, because you can find plenty of trucks on most toll roads, though there are some toll roads where trucks are banned because they are designed strictly for commuters/cars.
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