Posted on 09/13/2010 8:15:34 AM PDT by Willie Green
WASHINGTON - Imagine having to pay to travel on most of the major roads in the region.
The idea creating 1,650 miles of "variably priced" lanes on Capital Beltway, Interstates 270, 66 and 95, Route 50, the George Washington Parkway and others, is being floated as a "what-if" scenario by area transportation officials.
"Congestion is a major threat to the economic vitality of the region and the quality of life its residents enjoy," says a new report from the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.
Charging a variable toll to drive major commuter routes would increase speeds 15 mph to 20 mph on average, according to estimates. Officials say that widespread tolls would help minimize their overall cost.
"This is not a proposal, it's a 'what if' study that provides very interesting insight into the implications of tolling for our region," says Arlington County Board Member Chris Zimmerman.
The report emphasizes that this analysis is "designed to elicit discussion, not to provide conclusive answers."
Other "what if" scenarios explore the expansion of bus service, changing patterns of development and the impact of workers moving closer to their jobs.
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board meets Wednesday to discuss the report.
"Mr Right, we will DEFINITELY get you to work; our trains never stop. How does next Tuesday sound?"
Dude! I want some of what you’re smoking. Ain’t going to happen. Even with 2/3 majority in both houses, nothing this administration has done will de-funded, repealed, nullified, whatever. Despair? Yeah I’d say that what it is. Planning to leave the country. Why vote? With RINO’S like McLame trying to be bi-partisan, reach across the aisle... etc. The Republic is screwed. Sorry, but that is what I think.
WG, Lurker is probably correct, or at least should be.
No, he is a liberrtarian kook.
He should take his whacknut libertarian theories to Adak Island where nobody would give a damn whether he paid taxes or not. Just make him build his own doggone igloo and forage for his own blubber.
Yet you are a big promoter of even larger money-losing projects involving government-run rail. I simply marveled at the change of attitude on your part as permanent advocate for money-losing big money sink holes. That you chose to try to spin your way around the plain hypocrisy of your statement, is disappointing.
In Phoenix everything is spread out and the public transit sucks. A whole lot of people would suddenly be out of work.
We already pay to drive - it’s called the gasoline tax and it’s very high already. Perhaps if it weren’t spent on non-vehicle related costs, it would be more than adequate to build sufficient roads to ensure free travel.
In fact, I'd suggest that one big factor in highway congestion is the difficulty in having users pay for the highway system in a way that has any correlation to how much they contribute to the congestion on the system.
First we pay for the highways with our taxes. Then we pay for the maintenance with taxes on our fuel. Now they want us to pay for the right to drive on the damn highways?
A portion of I-680 in the San Fran area is going to have a toll on the high occupancy lane starting next week.
Carpools won’t pay- just those who are alone & want to travel fster.
I thought Interstate Highways were explicitly banned from ever charging tolls?
Those Federal employees also do not pay their taxes:
Thread a few days ago listed many departments where employees have a large amount of back taxes owed to the IRS.
41 aides in the White House owe over $831,000 in back taxes. More than 20 K each average!!!
willie just wants to ride the choo-choo...LOL
Ah! Yes. The American Airlines model - designed to maximize executives bonuses and royally p*** off the customers who realize what is being done to them.
Your reply is non-sensical, but a nice try as spinning the point made. My statement was not related to
Well there's no doubt that any defective logic must be occurring on YOUR side of the discussion, not mine.
Afterall, YOU'RE the one who started with the false premise by claiming I was against mass trasit.
I don't know how you came up with a deluded brainfart like that, so don't expect me to explain your own defect to you.
Then there's parking. By the time you get to the metro, wait for the next metro going your way, get to your destination stop, and get to your job, you've just chunked more than 45 minutes out of your day.
Thanks, I missed that story.
You have to admit, though, it’s refreshing to hear liberals discussing the negative effects taxes can have.
That is an outdated regulation.
Fifty years ago, Interstate "freeways" were built using 90% Federal Gas Tax and 10 % State matching funds.
But the federal gas tax has failed to keep up with funding for maintenance, reconstruction and new construction. So over the years there has evolved a patchwork of inconsistent exemptions where tolls are used to provide the supplementary funding. I'm not certain of the specific conditions, but states must agree to certain federeal restrictions before they're granted an exemption to collect tolls on the federal interstate.No doubt some transportation lawyer wannabe flying-monkey is gonna say that's completely wrong. But that's as best as I understand it in ordinary Joe-sixpack terms.
;^)
We already pay-to-drive: Car prices, insurance, gas taxes, license plate taxes, maintenance, tires, etc. Anyone thinking we do not pay is an idiot.
If we got rid of the unnecessary government jobs we would save money and solve the traffic problem.
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