Citizens Against Tolls

Citizens Against Tolls ^ | 2.7.02 | Ray Neveil

[Coleus]

Register with the YahooGroups on the bottom of the webpage and stay informed, you get an e mail maybe once a month, that's all.

There is no need for tolls in NJ or elsewhere. Toll roads are unsafe and cause many accidents and deaths, there was just one on the NJ Turnpike last week. We lose millions of federal aid every year. Let's end tolls once and for all in NJ and and the rest of the country.

[NovemberCharlie]

I have no complaints about the tollway in Houston.

[Coleus]

`

[muawiyah]

Tolls or Trolls?

I misread this one coming in - and sure, nobody likes Trolls.

[jude24]

I have no complaints about the tolls in WNY. Those who use the services pay for them.

As for the inconvenience of the toll, I minimized that by getting an EZ-Pass for my car. It's great, especially with all the toll roads in the Buffalo area.

[Coleus]

We have a lot of problems in New Jersey, first and foremost were the lies associated with the politicians when the toll roads were built in the 1950's. They sold revenue bonds to build the roadways and used tolls to pay off the bondholders, once the bonds were paid off the tolls were supposed to come down. They never did, 40 years later!!

In NJ where patronage, kickbacks and Mafia-like thinking goes on, the assemblymen and State Senators use the Parkway Authority as a patronage and job mill, which now costs over $100 million a year to run. And dole out road-repair contracts to the union bosses and contributors.

Traffic is unbearable, during rush hour and all weekend long while trying to get to the shore. The Parkway was built so that the residents could go down the shore quickly, well it is not quick.

In the article listed above, you see how much pollution is created by the stop-and-go traffic at each toll plaza. We lose hours and days of our lives waiting in line at tolls while commuting to work every day.

Many deaths have been attributed to the toll plazas as happened in the state of CT, which took down their tollbooths because of so many deaths. People switching lanes, looking for change, etc..there are many causes. The parkway and turnpike authorities have the power to bond thus taking away the power of the people. Even the legislature has no control over the bonding issues since it's an independent authority.

The parkway built a palatial office building with marble floors and expensive artwork. In addition, an arts center was built in the middle of nowhere, without voter approval, and where you have to pay tolls to get there. Why a toll authority is in the concert business is beyond me, only in New Jersey I guess.

Tolls are no good for New Jersey Residents.

[Coleus]

We have EZ pass too in NJ--a private corporation which now has access to our personal information. Also, now Big Brother knows where you are going since the transponder records everywhere you go while on the toll roads, they can even calculate if you are speeding or not!! I don't like it. We pay taxes for the upkeep of roads. EZ-Pass constantly make mistakes sending $25.00 fines made-up infractions.

[JoeSixPack1]

Tell me where your plan replaces the maintenance costs of these roads, bridges, tunnels, or thruways? Tax money is a bad answer.

[lepton]

Tell me where your plan replaces the maintenance costs of these roads, bridges, tunnels, or thruways? Tax money is a bad answer.

I wonder if NJ can account for where the money from tolls go. I recall a study on the bridges and tunnels into NYC a few years ago, where the Authority could only account for about ten cents on the dollar that was being taken in.

[Coleus]

First you cut the staff, that's where most of the money goes: salaries, benefits, pensions, sick days, medical, short and long term disability. After you get rid of the tolls, you will now recieve federal aid to take care of the roads. Then there is extra revenue by renting land to the gas stations and restaurants along the way, rentals for fiber optic cables along the toll plazas, etc. Go to the website for more ideas, www.endtolls.com

The parkway accounts for only 3% of all roads in NJ, I don't think 3% of more roads will cost much more. Your comment sounds like one a democrat would make.

[Cagey]

In NJ where patronage, kickbacks and Mafia-like thinking goes on, the assemblymen and State Senators use the Parkway Authority as a patronage and job mill, which now costs over $100 million a year to run. And dole out road-repair contracts to the union bosses and contributors.

And therein lies the highest hurdle we have to face. I'm surprised to find comments on this thread saying tolls are okay because the users of the roads should pay and EZ pass is a good idea. EZ Pass has been a nightmare in NJ and is ready to crumble under it's own weight.

Thanks for the ping, Coleus.

[lepton]

Your comment sounds like one a democrat would make.

Huh? I said the NY Bridge and Tunnels Authority (or whatever it's called) was a corrupt organization that causes 90% of the take to disappear. What exactly are you looking at?

[JoeSixPack1]

'...you will now recieve federal aid to take care of the roads.
Your comment sounds like one a democrat would make.

Your words, read 'em.

[JoeSixPack1]

I have no doubt that the agencies in charge of collection are corrupt. But that does not necessitate the burden being placed on the tax payer relieving the driver from road use maintenance cost.

In the trucking game you pay for every mile through a quarterly statement declaring the amount of miles traveled in each state. Toll roads, being as such, collect your road use tax as you use the road and these miles are not double taxed then on your quarterly statement. When cars purchase gas, state road use tax is part of the per gallon price. The proper thing then would be not to tax the fuel that is burned using a toll road. But don't hold your breath.

[lepton]

The point being that if you were to calculate what would need to be replaced, you would say take the $4.50 bridge toll, reduce it to 45c, then take out the costs of running the collection system...and you would end up with a rather miniscule difference. NY doesnt' use all of its fuel tax funds on road repair, and likely NJ is the same. Even what they can account for gets skimmed for other things.

[dead]

The roads are built. There is no reason for tolls, other than doling out political patronage jobs and fattening the unions.

As to maintenance, that money can come out the same funds that fix the potholes on Routes 80, 287, 280, 78, etc. The money comes from gasoline taxes, so those using the roads pay for them.

The NJ tolls increase aggravation, accidents and air pollution, strictly so the unions and the corrupt politicians of both parties can fatten their bank accounts.

[JoeSixPack1]

Corruption is a major problem, no argument there whatsoever. But to say the tolls should be abolished because the smog level is too high is a good giggle. I was trying to bring the economic side to this post. All points made by every poster here should be part of the fix.

But as far where the money comes from is a big concern.

Dead mentioned ROUTES, well there are state routes, city routes, and federal routes, there are also INTERSTATES (limited access) which is not to be confused with routes(open access), state or fed.

Gas tax is how the roads are paid for and maintained. Toll roads do not receive any of that gas tax. But if you care to increase your gas taxes and eliminate toll booths, well, this is still the USA. Your State, City and local municipality have that option. I am NOT a fan of toll booths, but I am a fan of paying for what you use. And while my federal gas taxes are used throughout the nation to maintain INTERSTATE highways and Federal routes, as well as local city streets including sidewalks and curbing and illumination, I don't think I care to support the NJ Turnpike (which I do already because it is designated an Interstate Hwy, 95) or that you should support the Florida Turnpike (Not designated an Interstate hwy). They have tolls to do that and it works, also for each bridge and tunnel with an Interstate assigned number.

And concerning congestion at the toll booth, maybe NJ has too many drivers and not enough room, they are the most populace state per square mile of land compared to the other 49.

[lepton]

And concerning congestion at the toll booth, maybe NJ has too many drivers and not enough room,

The Garden State Parkway, for example has some toll booths within 2 miles of each other - occassionally the line for one set of booths backs up through the other.

Yes, the number of cars going through and sitting idling DO have a pollutant effect though yes, the attack is likely merely a tactic for being rid of the things. In NY, one set of toll gates on 87 that I'm aware of produced sufficient pollution that one could tell when one was driving past it on parallel roads more than a mile away. The air quality in the area improved quite significantly when the toll gate was removed.

As for the Federal payments: part of what they're talking about is the withheld funds because of pollution levels. No, I don't think you should be paying for roads outside your state, except to the extent of the Interstate Highway is kept up, bt what you're talking about in funds is largely the Federal government giving back the funds collected within the state, for the state - a proccess of collection and blackmail that I find repugnant.