Posted on 04/24/2008 11:20:21 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry promised to keep fighting for private toll roads and his other transportation priorities Tuesday during his first major speech on the subject since the death in December of transportation commission chairman Ric Williamson.
"This is a place for big challenges, not big excuses," he told state Transportation Department employees and highway experts from around the country at the annual Transportation Forum.
Next year's legislative session, he said, can't be anything like last year's.
"The Legislature must understand that 'no' is not a solution," Mr. Perry said. "It is an abdication of responsibility."
Before last year's stormy session, lawmakers had steadily expanded Texas' ability to partner with private firms to develop toll roads in Texas.
"There remain many, many financial institutions who are ready, willing and able to invest their money to build the roads we need," Mr. Perry said Tuesday.
Across America, states from Georgia to Indiana to Pennsylvania – all facing huge road-funding deficits – have actively considered following Texas' example and seeking out private toll road deals. The results have been mixed, but since last year, those same companies' welcome in Texas has been uncertain.
In 2007, legislators rebelled over Mr. Perry's ambitious push for toll roads and privatization, demanding greater roles for public agencies such as the North Texas Tollway Authority.
Mr. Perry said lawmakers and voters alike reacted too quickly to an idea they may not have fully understood.
"Too often these debates over highways have been driven by emotion and not reason," he said. "As a result, honest debate has been stifled, and progress has been sacrificed on the altar of politics."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Well, I guess petrol taxation is just part of the general fund now.
Imagine that, $0.55 cents on every gallon of gas sold, just isn’t enough. And about $0.65 cents on every gallon of deisil doesn’t help get the job done.
Now we get to pay for using the roads we’ve already paid for.
How did our forefathers pay for highways? Did they force tolls on every foot of the highways they built?
We have turned into a fine buch of spineless lemings haven’t we.
Savi Technology operates RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) equipment and software for tracking and management.
The RFID network is owned and operated by Savi Networks LLC, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin subsidiary Savi Technology and Hutchinson Port Holdings, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited of Hong Kong, controlled by Chinese billionaire Li Ka Shing. Savi Technology owns 51 per cent of Savi Networks and Hutchison 49 per cent, according to a 2005 press release from the partnership: http://www.savi.com/news/2005/2005.04.21.shtml
Lockheed Martin is working with North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition: http://www.nascocorridor.com
Lockheed Martin has a $40 million deal to build high-tech sensors to support tracking along the highways through Savi Technology.
ping
ping
Meet the new GOP party. Headed by Arnold McPerry
For every mile of toll road you drive you should be able to send a statement to the government for a refund on your fuel taxes. I’m all for capitalism, but isn’t infrastructure one of the few things enumerated in the constitution that the government is actually supposed to take care of?
BTTT
There is a provision in the Constitution for post offices and “post roads” under Article I, Section 8.
Ummmm . . . . . . 'scuse me Governor Goodhair, but it's YOU who is reacting "too quickly" to a response he doesn't like. We don't want these roads . . . . PERIOD!!! Get off of it, move on and leave it alone!! You'll just have to give the under-the-table, dark-of-night bribe money back!!!
I love the new toll road in Austin! My 1 1/2 hour one way commute dropped to 20 minute...YES A 1 hour reduction one way. There are parts of Austin I no longer go to, because it’s just not worth the travel time.
It is for me come the next election that his name is listed on.
If you don’t mind, what city do you live near?
My oldest daughter lives in Round Rock and works off N. MOPAC and 2222. She saves about 30 minutes. Pays about $60 per month with a tolltag.
Myself, I only use them during leisure time.
Perry = Lame duck (and he’s running again)
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