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Chris, the biggest indicator that these toll roads will work is the private investors chomping at the bit to make them.
Chris, the bottom line is that you're looking at a 300% increase in funding that you want to come from a sales tax increase. How easy do you think that is going to be?
Chris, the biggest indicator that these toll roads will work is the private investors chomping at the bit to make them.
Because once they are in place, they are never going away. I'd be chomping at the bit to build them too.
But whats the point if people aren't going to use them?
Private money will fund the construction and it would end at some point.
Not always SW. The old Dallas tollway is no longer there (I think it's Hwy 75), and the one I used to drive in Virginia Beach was reverted once it was paid off. That being said, if the initial tollway in San Antonio is done with private funds, I think the guarantee is that it would be tolled for at least 50 years.
What is the amount of the fund you're are talking about? HOW MUCH WOULD THE STATE INCOME TAX NEED TO BE INCREASED TO PAY FOR THAT? Is the toll system going to solve these problems? Do you know these figures? Sounds like a bunch of promises to me.
Private investors doesn't don't care what is good for the public. They care only about money, and how much of it they will make. Would you think it was still a great idea if Walmart were going to run the whole thing?
So they could set the tolls at whatever they wanted, AND the money would go to pay for OTHER TOLL projects? I thought the money was going to go to improving all roads?But the companies would collect toll fees of 15 cents or more a mile for up to 50 years, money that San Antonio officials hoped to reinvest in other toll projects.
There is no state income tax. Is the Toll Road going to solve the problems? Well, projects are going to get done that woudln't otherwise get done. What do you think?
I understand what motivates private investors, but you're saying that toll roads aren't going to be used because of San Antonio's demographics. So how are the private companies going to make money? If nobody uses them how will they make money? What is making them think that people will use them enough to invest over a billion dollars into the project?Private investors doesn't don't care what is good for the public. They care only about money, and how much of it they will make. Would you think it was still a great idea if Walmart were going to run the whole thing?
Your argument is based on the assumption that nobody will use these roads. I simply think you're wrong in that assesment.
Why would the money go to imrpove our roads? If a company funds the construction of these roads, they would get a return on that investment. They have to set the tolls at a price that works with the market or else nobody will use the roads.
That quote is basically saying that SA officials wanted to control the tollways so that they would have money to reinvest in other tollways. Personally, I'd rather have the private companies manage them. Local officials will find a way to screw it up.
Sorry I meant to say sales tax, not income tax. I didn't say NOBODY would use them, just that they won't be used efficiently compared to conventional roads. They will set the price to make a proffit no doubt. But again, where does that leave those in SA who fall below that margin?
I will use these son of a es!
I take it as they will use the profits to fund other toll ways. That sucks! If we have to have them, then there should only be the bare minimum number of them to fund other projects. 50 years is too long. I could even see if roads were made toll until they paid off, but not for the long term.
Chris, Toll Roads suck or the people in this city who are poor because they probably won't use them for a significant percentage.
I agree.
But thats probably one of the reasons Highway 90 is never mentoined as a toll road and north 1604 is. We could go back and forth all day, but the bottom line is that I think this is prefferable to a tax increase.
This has to be mouse or mookie!
And I never heard of a z71 two wheel drive Chevy truck before?
its not me
LOL
chodes
its clandestino
You can take it however you want, but the context of the article is what I posted above.
If the state wants to put up the money up front and then collect the tolls to pay the project off, then it'll only be a toll road untill it is paid off. But then the problem arises of where to get the money, because once again they're running super low right now.
It has to be Clandestino. That's funny .
I could mybe see that, I think it's way cheaper to maintain something than fund it outright. Keep it toll for a time longer than it's paid off and use that as a maintaince fund.
Look there are positives and negatives to both sides of the story.
I simply find it a bit riduclious in some ways to add toll lanes to existing roadways. if the toll isnt overly costly, it will be used. if it is..then it will be a white elephant.
in other news...the 410/281 interchange will be stupid simply because they are using 2003 figures for the interchange instead of projecting it out to 2020 or something intelligent. i will yap more on this and other later.
I went to the meeting at the Via Center today regarding the Toll Roads. Well, before going I was pretty happy about the ideas being put forth by TXDOT but after listening to some comments by the people who were there to speak, I am increasingly leary about the idea because of the cir stances around it such as:
TXDOT already had funding approved for the section of 281 now slated for Toll Expansion. Why the did they shelf that in favor of tolls?
The possible contract for the roads is being kept private. Uh, that?
We have a tax in San Antonio I was unware of that goes directly for highways. This sales tax is unique. There's no way we should have to pay both a sales tax that no other city in Texas pays and be faced with the proposition of toll roads.
I'll try to get some more specifics on it later, it was an interesting meeting. They were also slated to discuss the Austin/San Antonio Rail Project but I left before then.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met...o.d851f6c.html
What the do they need tolls for then? Where did the funding go? And what the about a toll road makes it more expensive or was that just done for the purpose of selling the (unnessecary)toll road solution to the public?
There definetly needs to be an independent review before this gets shuttled under the rug like a bunch of other city politics.
If I were you guys reading it, I woudn't be shy about dropping a council man, the county commishiner, or members of the MPO a call or a letter.
This is starting to smell badly. Who would be the independent investigators? The Texas Rangers? Probably not. Since it probably involves federal dollars, maybe we can get federal agencies to become involved, but I would imagine that they would be reluctant to get involved. The governor damn sure isn't going to do something about it, I wouldn't be surprized if he isn't behind/involved in it somehow.
Oh, Rick Perry is at the heart of toll roads in Texas. He's in love with the idea of the Trans Texas Corridor. I like toll roads, but the key to them working is proper management and implimentation and I left with a bitter taste in my mouth yesterday.
The Texas Toll Party rep Terri Hall really impressed me. She spoke incredibly well and got her point across in very limited time. I had read parts of her website and took them with a grain of salt but she had actual information to back up what she was saying yesterday. She had old meeting minutes as well as official TXDOT forms, so I know what she said wasn't BS.
Rick Perry would sell his mother's gravesite for a tollroad if he thought it would get him a higher office. There needs to be a serious investigation, but I don't know who would have the power to do so other than possibly the Railroad Commision or the Lt. Gov.
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