More states consider tolls on freeways amid budget deficits

[flashl]

TRENTON, N.J. -- It's not a popular idea, but putting tolls on interstates is gaining traction in cash-strapped states such as New Jersey.

Lawmakers here are weighing tolls for Interstates 78 and 80, two busy highways that slice across the state from Pennsylvania to New York City. The idea was raised as an alternative to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's widely panned proposal to increase tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway.

...

Pennsylvania is weighing tolls on I-80. Virginia is considering putting them on Interstate 81. Missouri is eying toll truck lanes on Interstate 70.

...

"The financing system has delivered a tremendous good to us and it still serves us well in many respects, but I think the threshold of change is upon us," Ray said. "It is time now to have a dialogue about how we're going to finance our roads and infrastructure needs in the future."

Washington Post

The 'financing system' current reliance is on gasoline and other taxes. If the current 'financing system' is not working and the news is full of stories about citizens using pawnshop to extend their payday to buy gasoline, how could toll booths work better?

[hobbit709]

1. I'd be finding alternate routes.

They're starting this crap here in Austin. I'll be damned if I pay tolls on a road that my taxes have already paid for. I've noticed that going the FREE route only adds about 2 minutes to my time ass opposed to the TOLL route.

[Clear Blue Sky]

3. Agree. It's double taxation.

[lisa58]

2. we already have tolls on I95 (new jersey turnpike) and...

...the garden state parkway - the eastern part of the state is used to paying tolls.

[glowing]

4. And in the end, only the rich will travel, while the poor have a 5 mile

radius in which to live, shop, and work.

[Lasher]

5. Libertarian bullshit.

States shouldn't be allowed to charge tolls on Interstates. Federal money was used to build them. There are some Interstates that replaced existing toll roads when they came through, and they're still charging there and I guess I can understand that. But they should have a schedule where they have to pay off the bonds and eliminate toll charges. And certainly don't turn any existing free Interstates into toll roads. I can just see the politicians now, figuring out which highways are used 99% by people outside their states.

This is just as good an idea as selling off water systems to private companies.

[barnel]

8. I never did get the 'Indiana Tollway' I-80 as a kid

we drove across many states including ours, for free, then in Indiana, suddenly I-80 became 'the Indiana Tollway', like they owned I-80

always thought our state should have a toll booth where only indiana plates paid

[Lasher]

9. This is a way politicians can get their taxes from people who don't vote for them.

Stay in a hotel in Baltimore and check out the substantial taxes that are piled on by the city. Few local residents stay in these hotels but the tribute that is exacted from non-residents is used to fund the city government.

It's a similar scam with charging tolls on Interstates, since a higher percentage of drivers tend to be from another state, compared to the ratio on other roads. Except that the hotels in Baltimore were not built with Federal tax money. We should see legislation right now to prohibit establishment of any new toll charges on Interstates, and set a deadline for elimination of all those that are currently being levied.

States need to come up with another way to fund their governments without soaking nonresidents who are passing through. And I've got a great idea how they can go about it: Rescind every single one of the Bush tax cuts and restore all funding that was flowing from the Federal government to the states prior January 22, 2001.

[lib2DaBone]

6. K&R It's NEVER ENOUGH!

Unbelievable.. Most of these toll roads and Turnpikes have been paid for many times over. What really pisses me off, is when the tax payers build the roads and our fucking politicians sell them to foreign countries. (Dubai) Want a real shock? Check and see who owns your local toll roads and where the tolls are going. When it comes to tax dollars.. it is never enough. Our politicians (at all levels) will feed and feed and feed until there isn't a penny left.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. the underground economy is growing

there are many and varied ways to "enter" the underground economy.
the more the government mis-appropriates, steals, squanders tax money, the more motivated I have become to unplug from the tax system.
Used to be a bigger movement in the late 60's....
some of us are still of that mind set.

Not driving on toll roads is one step.

Something to think about, at least.

What if 70% of the pop. refused, for 6 months, to buy any

one brand of gas?
one brand of groceries?
bottled water?
"new" clothes?


sheep get sheared till there is no more wool, then they get skinned.