Thread: TX: Attack on Toll Roads Continues

State Bill Would Halt New Toll Road Construction

Jay Gormley
Reporting

(CBS 11 News) NORTH TEXAS Toll roads in Texas are fueling quite a debate these days, with many drivers saying they hate them. Despite the Texas Department of Transportation's claims that money generated by toll roads are the only way to keep up with the demand for new highways, a bill in the state legislature could put a temporary stop to their construction.

CBS 11 News asked one North Texas driver, "What would you say if you never had to pay a toll again?" The response was – "Great. I would say excellent." Another driver said, "It should be free."

Texas State Representative Garnett Coleman feels the same way. He's asking lawmakers to pass his bill that halts the construction of all new TxDOT toll roads until September of 2009.

"Texans already pay for state highways through the gasoline tax and now they're being asked to pay twice with tolls. So clearly, the public is being nickeled and dimed," Coleman said.

A lot of questions are being asked about that gas tax. TxDOT argues that it hasn't been raised in 14 years. Meanwhile, the population of Texas has exploded and so has the demand for new roads.

TxDOT says the gas tax of 1993 cannot keep up with the demand of 2007.

Toll roads already up, or under construction, would not be affected.

TxDOT admits Coleman's bill will win over the public. But TxDOT official Angela Loston says the bill isn't very realistic. "It's not very feasible and the reason why is because we in the DFW area are facing a huge budget crisis. As unpopular as tolls are, they are necessary."

Coleman supports a hike in the gas tax to pay for new highways, but TxDOT says it would take a massive increase to cover all the road projects scheduled over the next five years.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

NAFTA Super Highway is a Toll Road for Spain.

Dixie

The Texas population wouldn't be exploding if not for the damned illegal aliens. They're everywhere here in the Dallas area, and I'm sure it's the same in all our major urban areas. On top of the fact that there are so many of them clogging our roads, half of them don't know how to drive and cause accidents and congestion due to their lack of driver education. Also, it has gotten to the point that the majority of the stalled cars that I encounter clogging traffic are the poorly maintained vehicles of illegal aliens. Clear up the alien problem and we won't need all the new roads (or new schools, for that matter).

Knowing the arrogance of Ricardo Perry and the toll-lust of Ric Williamson and his TxDOT Mafia, I wouldn't be surprised if any attempt to stop toll roads would be squashed. That includes the TTC. I pray I am wrong, but Perry is clearly the Lex Luthor of governors, and I'm not sure where Superman is at this moment.

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

The Texas population wouldn't be exploding if not for the damned illegal aliens. They're everywhere here in the Dallas area, and I'm sure it's the same in all our major urban areas. On top of the fact that there are so many of them clogging our roads, half of them don't know how to drive and cause accidents and congestion due to their lack of driver education. Also, it has gotten to the point that the majority of the stalled cars that I encounter clogging traffic are the poorly maintained vehicles of illegal aliens. Clear up the alien problem and we won't need all the new roads (or new schools, for that matter).

Lets remember that houston and the capital of texas,Austin, are both sanctuary cities. and San antonio is mostly hispanic also, be it legal or illegal