Obama Administration proposes Interstate system to be tolled

[PricklyPete]

I don't see an issue. Pay to play.

 

[K1052]

Tax the sale of tires by weight or size.

Heavier vehicles need more/bigger tires, and people who run more miles go through tires faster.

And safety won't at all be compromised by owners of heavy vehicles putting off tire replacement longer? Not sure this is such a good idea.

 

[Zorba]

Uhh, all the toll roads are in the major metro towns were are completely D controlled. The only D controlled major metro town that is resisting toll roads is San Antonio.

Even when I lived in Houston though I avoided the toll roads. Never used them. You can get around perfectly fine without them.

Most of the tollways are being added in the suburbs, which are republican. Show me how Dallas proper is responsible for the addition of the George Bush Turnpike, SH121 Turnpike, Premium Lanes on 635 or the Lewisville Lake Tollbridge, which is in a very red county.

BTW: I am not saying toll roads are a republican thing, I am just saying it isn't a democrat thing. It is a politician thing, because it allows them to spend money they don't have without "raising taxes." I just got baited by the local troll.

 

[Zorba]

I don't see an issue. Pay to play.

So you support higher fuel tax and vehicle registration fees right?

The problem with tolls is they aren't applied evenly/fairly, they have massively different impacts depending on where you live/work, even within the same Metro area.

For example, in the Dallas area if you live in Frisco, you basically have to take a toll road, or be massively inconvenienced. But if you live in Arlington, you would have to take a toll way very often.

In Oklahoma, there is no major highway the connects Tulsa to another city that is not a turnpike, there a 5 turnpikes leaving Tulsa. OKC only has 2 turnpikes leaving it, one towards Tulsa and the other towards Wichita Falls. Why should Tulsans pay more to support the road system, than people in OKC?

 

[schmuckley]

This piece i pretty well written: http://www.philkerpen.com/?q=node/149

Toll roads are not the way to go.

Do away with fed fuel tax and let states maintain their own roads.

Problem solved.

 

[Nebor]

So you support higher fuel tax and vehicle registration fees right?

The problem with tolls is they aren't applied evenly/fairly, they have massively different impacts depending on where you live/work, even within the same Metro area.

For example, in the Dallas area if you live in Frisco, you basically have to take a toll road, or be massively inconvenienced. But if you live in Arlington, you would have to take a toll way very often.

In Oklahoma, there is no major highway the connects Tulsa to another city that is not a turnpike, there a 5 turnpikes leaving Tulsa. OKC only has 2 turnpikes leaving it, one towards Tulsa and the other towards Wichita Falls. Why should Tulsans pay more to support the road system, than people in OKC?

I support tolls, higher gas taxes and vehicle registrations. I live in Dallas, btw, and we love our toll roads. Like the other guy said, pay to play.

 

[Wreckem]

Most of the tollways are being added in the suburbs, which are republican. Show me how Dallas proper is responsible for the addition of the George Bush Turnpike, SH121 Turnpike, Premium Lanes on 635 or the Lewisville Lake Tollbridge, which is in a very red county.

BTW: I am not saying toll roads are a republican thing, I am just saying it isn't a democrat thing. It is a politician thing, because it allows them to spend money they don't have without "raising taxes." I just got baited by the local troll.

His comments were misguided. Its not a D or R thing. And its not really controlled locally.

Most of the tollways in Texas are state highways, which are then under control by regional toll authorities. Its not the local yocals who get to decide whats going to be a toll, its TXDOT and the State. The states transportation policy is to mainly use tolling to help cover TXDOTs funding shortfall.


DFW had
Dallas North Tollway
George Bush Turnpike
Sam Rayburn Tollway

Then they added and are in the process of adding
DFW Connecter(toll lanes)
635(toll lanes)
North Tarrant Express(820 and Airport Freeway)
Chisholm Trail Parkway(supposed to open this month)
Trinity Express(to be built completion TBD)
360 Tollway(to be built completion TBD).

What do most of these things have in common? The upgrades/improvements/expansions are all over a decade overdue. The other thing is all but one was a pre-existing road(Chisholm Trail is entirely new, the rest aren't). The State is using tolls to maintain and expand existing roads because they won't spend money on keeping up with growth.

 

[Wreckem]

I support tolls, higher gas taxes and vehicle registrations. I live in Dallas, btw, and we love our toll roads. Like the other guy said, pay to play.

I dont know of many in DFW that love toll roads. We accept them and their growing numbers because we have no choice.

 

[Wreckem]

So you support higher fuel tax and vehicle registration fees right?

The problem with tolls is they aren't applied evenly/fairly, they have massively different impacts depending on where you live/work, even within the same Metro area.

For example, in the Dallas area if you live in Frisco, you basically have to take a toll road, or be massively inconvenienced. But if you live in Arlington, you would have to take a toll way very often.

In Oklahoma, there is no major highway the connects Tulsa to another city that is not a turnpike, there a 5 turnpikes leaving Tulsa. OKC only has 2 turnpikes leaving it, one towards Tulsa and the other towards Wichita Falls. Why should Tulsans pay more to support the road system, than people in OKC?

In Re: Frisco v. Arlington. If(big if) and when the southern metroplex needs roadway expansion you can fully expect tolls to pop up. Technically they already are as the 360 expansion south of 20 is going to be a tollway. I expect all of 360 to eventually follow as 360 is in dire need of an overhaul.

 

[Thebobo]

bad idea

 

[hal2kilo]

Most of the tollways are being added in the suburbs, which are republican. Show me how Dallas proper is responsible for the addition of the George Bush Turnpike, SH121 Turnpike, Premium Lanes on 635 or the Lewisville Lake Tollbridge, which is in a very red county.

BTW: I am not saying toll roads are a republican thing, I am just saying it isn't a democrat thing. It is a politician thing, because it allows them to spend money they don't have without "raising taxes." I just got baited by the local troll.

Second paragraph is the answer.

 

[Thump553]

The fact of the matter is that gas taxes are insufficient to maintain the highways and the situation is probably going to only get worse. No politician seeking to keep his/her job will ever vote to increase gas taxes and increased fuel efficiency will mean more wear and tear and less funds for repairs.

Like everything in life there is no perfect solution but tolls (with an EZPass type system, please no traffic jam causing toll booths) may be the best of a bad set of possible solutions. Offhand I can't think of anything fairer even though it would hurt me-I drive a lot and have a highly efficient car.

 

[senseamp]

Okay..and it's already in place.So you're saying we need a new tax for roads because we already have a tax for roads?

Or we need to tax the rich in addition to taxing everyone for the roads?

Not sure what your point of view is here.

Income tax is also already in place, no need for a new tax, just adjust the rates to pay for roads.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

So, which states with toll roads do you guys think have the nicest looking roads?

I think its PA...

Well you can have lots more like it!

 

[waggy]

I have traveled across the country a few times by car. The worst roads i have ever seen happen to be toll roads. fuck going across IL and PA. worst fucking roads ever.

 

[dank69]

Another attack by obummer and his minions on the middle class. Of course on TV the idiot in chief will claim to be fighting for the little guy against the evil 1%'ers. The rich don't care about tolls on roads, it's completely meaningless to them. It's the middle class, people that want to drive to see family for thanksgiving or something that are going to get soaked. As usual.

The rich will care when their transportation costs (trucking) go way up.

 

[Nebor]

I dont know of many in DFW that love toll roads. We accept them and their growing numbers because we have no choice.

I live in University Park, so I mainly use the DNT, but occasionally I'll use the George Bush if I'm visiting friends in other parts of DFW. I don't recall any strong opposition to any of the new toll roads. IMO it's a small price to pay to drive on nice, smooth roads as opposed to 35, 183, etc.

 

[rudder]

Well if republicans in congress would pass a infrastructure bill the problem would be fixed.
Roads need repair and the magic road repair fairy is broke.
Yeah, blame Obama for still another republican congressional failure.
Better yet, vote republicans OUT and we can get some long needed infrastructure bills passed.
And THERE you have the solution!

Because if we get to far behind in printing money... taxes can be raised across the board. Obama is already the highest taxing president of all time... a few more taxes won't hurt.

Just saying lets repair stuff doesn't make it happen. You need money.

 

[ivwshane]

Because if we get to far behind in printing money... taxes can be raised across the board. Obama is already the highest taxing president of all time... a few more taxes won't hurt.

Just saying lets repair stuff doesn't make it happen. You need money.

He's the highest taxing president? By what standard do you make that claim?

 

[ElFenix]

Uhh, all the toll roads are in the major metro towns were are completely D controlled. The only D controlled major metro town that is resisting toll roads is San Antonio.

Even when I lived in Houston though I avoided the toll roads. Never used them. You can get around perfectly fine without them.

harris county, which owns and operates the toll road, is republican controlled.

 

[Zorba]

In Re: Frisco v. Arlington. If(big if) and when the southern metroplex needs roadway expansion you can fully expect tolls to pop up. Technically they already are as the 360 expansion south of 20 is going to be a tollway. I expect all of 360 to eventually follow as 360 is in dire need of an overhaul.

I agree, my point remains though, tolls are a tax that are very disproportionately spread among the various users of roads. So you (currently) tax the people on the North side of DFW, but if you just happen to live on the southside you don't have to pay any of the increased taxes.

Another example is Tulsa, inside the metro, there is a large south-loop that is all toll, no other highways inside the metro are tolls. So basically people living in the south side of the metro have to pay to have highway access, while the rest of the city doesn't, even though all the other highways have been rebuilt/expanded since the tollway went in.

 

[Victorian Gray]

He's the highest taxing president? By what standard do you make that claim?

Rush Limbaugh's

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

.

How much more taxation and fees can the people take?

.

Hmmm I wonder what demographic could afford to pay more taxes....

 

[pcgeek11]

Well if republicans in congress would pass a infrastructure bill the problem would be fixed.
Roads need repair and the magic road repair fairy is broke.
Yeah, blame Obama for still another republican congressional failure.
Better yet, vote republicans OUT and we can get some long needed infrastructure bills passed.
And THERE you have the solution!

Why didn't the Democrats pass the "long Needed Infrastructure Bills" when they had everything Congress, Senate and Prez?

Hmmmm.

 

[ch33zw1z]

As our roadways crumble, something needs to be done. This definitely isn't my first choice, but it would probably help. I'd rather see our ever growing Federal Government stop some of jobs programs and spy programs first.