Toll roads hit speed bumps

[donsu]

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=195164


In 2006, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) triggered a toll-way mania when he signed a whopping $3.8 billion deal to lease the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road to a private investment firm for 75 years.
But this year, public and political opposition forced Daniels to shelve two smaller proposals for privately built and managed toll roads in the Hoosier State.

Daniels is not the only governor whose transportation funding plans are being detoured. As states increasingly look to toll roads and public-private partnerships for quick road-funding fixes, the public, consumer advocates and motorist and trucking associations are putting up barriers to pay-as-you-drive proposals.

Grassroots activists and state legislators are trying to put the brakes on plans by Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) for a 4,000-mile network of toll roads. Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's initiative to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike was instantly panned by the state Turnpike Authority and union workers who operate toll booths on that road. A majority of New Jersey residents oppose Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's idea to lease the Garden State Parkway to cut the state's debt or lower property taxes, according to a January poll.

In 2006, Colorado residents persuaded lawmakers to bar private companies from using eminent domain to claim land for road projects – a measure aimed at killing a 210-mile toll road across the state’s eastern plains.
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thank goodness citizens are standing up and opposing this

[ThomCat]

1. Turning public infrastructure into private, for-profit, projects

is a bad idea! x(

I don't understand the logic that makes people think this would work. So, as a publically run project it's not bringing in enough money. That means it's not bringing in enough to maintain itself, and certainly not any profit. So if you turn it over to a company that MUST make a profit what are they going to have to do?

They're going to have to cut services, cut staff, cut pay, and increase tolls!

How does any of that help the public?
:grr:

[donsu]

2. it helps the politicians and local suits to fill their pockets

nt

[liberal N proud]

3. These fuckers are just giving away the very infrastructure that America thrives on

These highways are the blood veins of America and the toll booths are blood clots stopping everyone, backing up traffic for miles on end because the contractor who was practically given the roadway is working on a lean business plan and only has two toll booth operators on Sunday evening.

We build it with our money, the government gives it to their cronies to "privatize" and charge us double.
:wtf:

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Actually, the Indiana Toll Road (I 94) was privately financed in the 50's

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_East-West_Toll_Road

Just thought you might like to know this.

[liberal N proud]

5. Is that why that thing is alway, ALWAYS under construction?

I have yet to drive through Gary Indiana without sitting in construction on that stretch of road. I make about 2 - 3 trips a year through there each direction.