Congress just approved a massive $286.4 billion highway bill (HR3). You might think the bill would be a cure for TxDOT's "we're poor, so we must toll the roads we've already paid for" argument for tolls.
But, you'd be wrong.
Early reports already show how even more of our tax dollars will go to Tolling Texas roads we've already paid for. Read the last line in this article a few times, and let me know what you think in the comment area below.
From MyWestTexas.com: "TxDOT spokesman Glen Larum of Odessa said the six-year bill "is a major win for Texas transportation" with $669 million for 220 projects.
It creates a $15 billion Private Activity Bond program for intermodal facilities, encouraging private sector investments and partnerships and advancing Trans Texas Corridor plans.
It'll add options for new federal highways to be toll roads and for local communities to use Transportation Development Credits to meet federal road and transit match requirements."
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CNN report on political fat favors in bill LAMAR SMITH voted for: "Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, cited dozens of what he suggested were questionable projects in a highway bill, including $3 million to fund production of a documentary about infrastructure advancements in Alaska.
The bill, he said, is "terrifying in its fiscal consequences and disappointing for the lack of fiscal discipline." Joining McCain in voting against the bill were Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire, and Jon Kyl, R-Arizona.
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DALLAS tells of fat & tolls: "The bill also provides new options to charge tolls on new federal roadways..."
The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.
"Texas Sen. John Cornyn was one of only four senators to vote against the bill. He argued that the state deserves a larger share of money than it would receive in the new bill.
This bill simply continues the pervasive and longstanding funding inequity, and I cannot support that," he said, adding that the bill was "cut up in special-interest projects and pork-barrel spending."
"In addition, an amendment sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound, Texas to receive more financial credits from the federal government for building toll roads with state and local money."
More Here
What do you think? Add your comments here.
7/30/2005
Congressman Michael Burgess & $286.4 Billion HR3 bill pushes more Tolls on Texas taxpayer funded freeways.
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1 comment:
I need to see the exact provisions in terms of tolling. There were reports in recent months that TxDOT was lobbying intensely to have the authority to toll existing interstates. I think they wanted that authority to make the Trans-Texas corridor viable. At the time, reports said Senator Hutchinson blocked TxDOT's efforts to toll interstates.
So far I have not seen any reports that indicate tolling of existing interstates. There was previous federal legislation to allow a few demonstration projects of tolling (no states have done it, and only Virginia has seriously considered it on I-81).
My impression is that a doomsday scenario did not come to pass (tolling of existing interstates), but the legislation will futher empower tolling in general the Trans-Texas corridor with the $15 billion credit pool of non-taxable bonds, plus other provisions. My guess is that I-69 will be tolled even if it gets federal money. And it looks like the Texas delegation has been the main instigator of the pro-toll provisions.
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