U.S. building more highways, letting old ones crumble

Link to article here.

U.S. keeps building new highways while letting old ones crumble
By Curtis Tate and Greg Gordon
February 3, 2013
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- Oil-rich Texas has built more highways and bridges than any other state, but over the next two decades it will fall $170 billion short of what it needs to keep the sprawling network in good repair.

In California, transportation officials estimate that 60 percent of the state’s roads and a quarter of its bridges need to be repaired or replaced, at a projected cost of $70 billion over a decade, some $52 billion more than the available funds.

Virginia's 495 Express Lanes attracting much less traffic than needed

Link to article here.

The primary thing to look at with these privately-run toll express lanes is the difference between the forecasted traffic and the actual traffic. Though Toll Road News is cheerleading for the success of these toll lanes, the expected traffic is off by 64% and revenue is 85% less than expected. Scroll down to the end where it tells you all the fines and fees you rack up if you can't figure out how to pay these electronic tolls without an electronic Toll Tag account. These tolls are a threat to your freedom to travel, and can bankrupt you if they mail the bills to the wrong address (which happens frequently with TxDOT).

VA495 Express Lanes report good start after 6 weeks - doing 24k weekdays
Toll Road News
January 11, 2013

Operators of the 495 Express Lanes on the Capital Beltway in the Washington DC area - a Transurban/Fluor subsidiary - report  traffic has been building steadily since they opened November 17 and that they are getting "great feedback" from customers via twitter, emails, and calls to the customer service center.

They cite motorists saying the new toll express lanes are saving them up to 20 minutes on their Beltway commutes, that they are "a game changer" and "the best money I've ever spent."

On startup they had some motorist confusion and minor incidents at the entry northbound from the Springfield Interchange.

Perry calls for end to diversions, Rainy Day raid for roads

Link to article here.

Perry solicits ideas for tax relief, grassroots say nix toll taxes
By Terri Hall
January 29, 2013
Examiner.com

In his State of the State speech today, Texas Governor Rick Perry asked Texans how they'd like to see tax relief implemented in the current legislative session. Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF) and other taxpayer groups called for eliminating toll taxes and using our existing road taxes, currently being diverted to other purposes, to expand our freeways without tolls. The Governor's web site, http://www.gov.texas.gov has no option for toll tax relief.

Perry did announce his support for ending gas tax diversions for non-road purposes. Ending diversions is part of the Governor's truth in taxation plank in his Budget Compact, which means taxes collected for a certain purpose should go only to that purpose. Perry's leadership to end gas tax diversions, estimated to be $1.3 billion per biennium, is much needed and very helpful. But that alone isn't sufficient to properly fund our state highways without higher taxes -- tolls.

Transportation chairmen want existing vehicle sales taxes to boost road funding

Link to article here.

While we like Sen. Robert Nichols' bill, we love Rep. Linda Harper-Brown's bill, HB 479, better because it moves the vehicles sales tax money over to roads quicker. We can't wait 10 more years to properly fund our state highway system and end the practice of tolling everything, which is a $2,000-$3,000/yr hike in the average commuter's taxes.

Texas' top transportation lawmakers pick vehicle sales tax as preferred way to boost highway fund
By Tom Benning
Dallas Morning News
January 30, 2013

Texas’ top transportation lawmakers have now made official their preferred method for infusing the Texas Department of Transportation’s highway fund with much-needed cash.

Robert Nichols and Larry Phillips — the chairmen of the state Senate and House transportation committees, respectively — jointly filed bills Monday to dedicate to TxDOT the 6.25 percent sales tax levied on new and used vehicle purchases.

Lawmakers mull tax on electric cars

Link to article here.



Electric car fees considered

By Aman Batheja
Texas Tribune

Wednesday, January 23, 2013



Owning an electric car in Texas could become more expensive under one proposal being considered by state lawmakers to raise money for road construction.

Increasing registration fees on owners of electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf is “one of the options on the table,” according to state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, who was vice chairman of the House Transportation Committee last legislative session.


Various transportation-minded lawmakers have said they are set on finding a reliable stream of revenue for transportation this session. Most of the current funding comes from the 38.4 cents in state and federal taxes Texans pay per gallon of gas, an amount that has not been raised in 20 years and has failed to keep up with inflation and the increasing fuel efficiency of new vehicles.



Texas Speaker says state needs more than tax cuts

Link to article here.

We agree that the State must get back to funding the core Constitutional functions of government, but funding core functions and cuts in spending and tax relief are not mutually exclusive.

Speaker says Texas needs more than tax cuts
Associated Press
January 28, 2013

AUSTIN, TX -- Texas needs more than tax cuts to thrive and will require investments in education, infrastructure and water to keep growing, House Speaker Joe Straus told the Texas Association of Broadcasters on Monday.

The San Antonio Republican said the state's rapidly growing population and economy means the state must spend more on what he called the government's core responsibilities. The speaker oversees the Texas House and sets the legislative agenda.

Boycott success? TxDOT keeps Cintra's early traffic data on SH 130 secret

Link to article here.

What's TxDOT trying to hide from the public? That our boycott of Texas' first foreign-owned toll road is working?

TxDOT mum on use of new tollway section
By Ben Wear
Austin American Statesman
January 27, 2013


Maybe they should have set the speed limit at 90.

I kid.

I’m referring to the new section of the Texas 130 tollway, of course, the 41-mile stretch from Mustang Ridge to Seguin that last fall was briefly the most famous (notorious?) road in America. Having an 85-mph speed limit will do that.

But has it enticed a substantial number of drivers?

Kasich's alternative plan for Ohio Turnpike a disaster

Link to article here.

While we're glad the Ohio Turnpike won't be sold off to a private company, Kasich's alternative plan is a disaster. We agree with Peter Samuel's analysis on some points, but he's dead wrong on others. The public should ALWAYS have the right to build 'competing' freeways as the public interest dictates. Samuel's happy to lockdown all free travel and turn everything into an unaccountable toll road in the hands of unelected or privately-run boards. Affordable travel is never his goal -- he wants travel costs to be as punitive as possible to drive up the profits of his toll road buddies. He lends an important perspective nonetheless.

In Fitch's fantasy world Kasich plan for Ohio Turnpike 'conservative,' won't affect rating
By Peter Samuel
January 6, 2013
Toll Road News

Fitch Ratings say that an extra $1.5 billion in debt "is not expected to negatively impact the quality of existing OTC debt" and that they view the plan as "conservative." The money will be used for a mix of reconstruction and for off-Turnpike untolled projects.



Alamo toll agency lays off nearly all its workers

Tolling authority to lay off employees

By Vianna Davila

Express-News

January 22, 2013



Several employees of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority will be out of a job by March 2, not quite a year after Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff first called for downsizing the tolling agency's operations.

They include the RMA chief financial officer, director of engineering, community development director and public information manager.

Interest group says SA roads need fixing

This 'report' is based solely on data & 'solutions' from TxDOT. It's not an independent look at congestion, and it's biased by TxDOT's toll everything approach. Toll lanes DO NOT carry as much traffic as a free lane, therefore toll lanes DO NOT solve congestion because they don't provide enough adequate FREE capacity to relieve congestion. If we want genuine congestion relief, adding sufficient non-toll capacity is the only way to go.

Industry group says S.A. roads in need
By Vianna Davila
Friday, January 18, 2013

Five of the state's 50 worst transportation problems are in San Antonio, according to a report released Thursday by a transportation research group whose study also suggests one of those corridors should be expanded to include toll lanes.

Two of the San Antonio corridors named in the report — Interstate 35 between Loop 410 and FM 3009, and Loop 410 from U.S. 281 to I-35 — were in the top five statewide, according to TRIP, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit funded by the insurance, construction and engineering industries. The report ranked 100 so-called transportation challenges, looking at everything from congested roads to deteriorating bridges.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Industry-group-says-S-A-roads-in-need-4203736.php#ixzz2Jl2Fpz3h

NTTA seeks power to block car registration

Link to article here.

We hear from many Texans who receive erroneous bills from the NTTA with threats of punitive fines and fees if they refuse to pay within 10 days, which is not enough time to resolve errant bills. Their billing department is notorious for busy signals and not answering the phone, so people have trouble even reaching a live person to resolve their bills. Now the NTTA wants to prevent Texans from registering their vehicles for failure to pay tolls. Who cares if the Harris County Toll Road Authority already has this power, no entity should have the power to keep you from getting to work for an unpaid debt -- which may not even be legitimate in the first place.

Tollway agency wants to block auto registrations for scofflaws
By Gordon Dickson
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Monday, Jan. 14, 2013

Motorists who refuse to pay tolls would be unable to renew yearly vehicle registrations in North Texas' four largest counties, under a state law change the North Texas Tollway Authority is seeking in the current legislative session.

"What we're talking about is tightening the system so people know there are consequences," said agency Chairman Kenneth Barr, a former Fort Worth mayor.

Victory: Ohioans reject sale of Ohio Turnpike

Link to article here.

Ohioans sideline sale of Ohio Turnpike
By Terri Hall
January 19, 2013

In a victory for state sovereignty, property rights, and taxpayers, the grassroots managed to defeat Ohio Governor John Kasich’s proposal of selling off the Ohio Turnpike to a private toll operator using a controversial public private partnership (P3). The state officially pulled the plug on the P3, announcing the turnpike would stay public but the state will issue bonds backed by future toll revenues to generate needed cash. Kasich considered the turnpike an ‘unused asset’ that he could sell-off for a half century to get $3 billion now for other road projects. But Ohioans had a different opinion.

At the first public hearing held by the state to get public feedback last summer, 75 of 77 attendees said they were against privatizing the Ohio Turnpike. The Cuyahoga County Commissioners in northern Ohio opposed the sale. Many pointed to the poor conditions of the Indiana Toll Road once it was handed to Spain-based Cintra and Australian company Macquarie in a 75-year lease. Rates more than doubled, maintenance went down, and the concession company is struggling financially.

Bait & Switch: San Marcos Council swaps park land for apts

Link to article here.

Planned development on riverfront riles some San Marcos residents
By Ciara O'Rourke
American-Statesman Staff
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013

SAN MARCOS — Three-quarters of the San Marcos residents who voted in the November election supported the city acquiring about 70 acres of riverfront property east of Interstate 35 historically known as Cape’s Camp and Thompson’s Island for a public park.

Parkland is still planned on the property, but under circumstances that have some residents planning to try to recall several council members who have backed developing more than half of the land for student housing instead.

TxDOT says it needs $4 billion more for roads

Link to article here.

TxDOT director: Agency needs $4 billion more for roads, maintenance
By AP
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013

FORT WORTH — The Texas Department of Transportation needs an additional $1 billion a year to keep up with maintenance on 80,000 miles of roads in the state, the agency’s executive director said Thursday.

Phil Wilson told a group of officials Thursday that TxDOT also is likely to need an additional $3 billion a year to deal with growing congestion on interstates and other roads.

SA Street Car now funded entirely with taxpayer money

Link to article here.

EXCLUSIVE: Private Sector Support for Downtown Streetcar Vanishes
WOAI Radio
Tuesday, January 8, 2013   

Downtown businesses have pulled their support for that very controversial downtown streetcar project, which means San Antonio City Council will rubber stamp the proposal on Thursday with the taxpayer picking up the entire $187 million tab, 1200 WOAI news reports.

The original streetcar proposal, which was approved by City Council in October of 2011, called for a Special Assessment District and/or private sector contributions of $15 million toward building the streetcar.  That would be made up of downtown businesses which are the entities which the streetcar is being built to support, according to streetcar backers.

PA toll authority under fire for giving free rides to friends

Link to article here.

Auditor Blasts Pennsylvania Toll Road Mismanagement
Motorist toll revenue exploited by Pennsylvania Turnpike officials for personal use, according to state auditor.
January 11, 2013
The Newspaper.com

Friends of the Pennsylvania Turnpike are getting a free ride. In a report released Tuesday, Auditor General Jack Wagner blasted the state-run toll road's culture of freebies lavished on political allies, the lack of transparency and accountability as well as the money-losing financial gambles that the Turnpike Commission used to finance its debt.

Unlike motorists who must pay up to $46.30 for a single trip across the state, the toll route's 2104 employees can travel for free any time they wish for personal travel by flashing their employee badge at a toll booth. Special "non-revenue" E-ZPass units were also bestowed upon 5000 consultants, contractors, politicians and state officials so they could travel without paying as well.

Government report pushes driving tax by mile

Link to article here.

GAO Report Pushes Per-Mile Taxation
Government report argues in favor of implementing some form of per-mile tax, despite inherent inefficiency.
January 10, 2013
The Newspaper.com

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) believes lawmakers should tax motorists for every mile they drive. In a report released Tuesday, the congressional watchdog agency suggested GPS surveillance devices or other, less invasive techniques could be used to more than double the amount of money motorists currently pay in federal gas tax fees.

GAO's auditors examined per-mile tax pilot projects in Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington to evaluate the benefits and downsides of gas tax replacement programs. At the federal level today, the 18.4 cents per gallon fuel excise tax generates $34 billion for the Highway Trust Fund, a fund GAO says faces future shortfalls as a result of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations.

State leaders taking Texas off fiscal cliff with road debt

Link to article here.

Lawmakers taking Texas off fiscal cliff with road debt
By Terri Hall
January 10, 2013
Examiner.com

Thirty-one billion and counting. That’s how much road debt Texas Governor Rick Perry and Texas lawmakers have racked-up since they abandoned pay-as-you-go and started down the road of borrow and spend road policy. In fact, federal data shows Texas has the highest road debt of any state in America. Texas officials have been building roads with credit cards, and they're maxed out. Local debt incurred by toll authorities, cities and counties is equally out of control with just the North Texas Tollway Authority at $9 billion and climbing.

Indeed, the transportation picture looks bleak. If lawmakers fail to get the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) adequate traditional funding this session, Texans will be faced with more of the same failed policies -- unsustainable debt, failing toll roads subsidized with tax dollars, and public private partnerships that sell-off our public infrastructure to private corporations that charge oppressively high tolls with impunity for generations.

Texas, we can do better.

Street car draws criticism in Virginia

Link to article here.

Columbia Pike Streetcar Drives Heated Procurement Debate
Arlington County Board adopts rules that allow public-private partnerships to finance major transportation projects.
By Jason Spencer
December 11, 2012

The Arlington County Board on Monday adopted guidelines that will allow public-private partnerships to help finance major transportation projects, like the Columbia Pike streetcar, after an unusually heated discussion.

Board member Libby Garvey, who was elected in November to her first full four-year term partially on a platform that included opposing the streetcar, fought an uphill battle all night.
She fought — with question after question, after question, after question.

For about three hours, the board dissected the Virginia Public-Private Transportation Act and pages of new or amended county procurement guidelines.

Orange County toll system falling short of paying its debt

Link to article here.

Orange County toll roads under review by California
With ridership and revenue on Orange County's toll roads falling short of projections, the state of California has launched a formal inquiry into their economic viability.
By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times
December 11, 2012

When it opened during the 1990s, Orange County's $2.4-billion tollway system was touted as an innovative way to build public highways without taxpayer money.

Today, the roads offer smooth sailing for gridlock-weary commuters willing to pay the price. But far fewer people are using the turnpikes than officials predicted, which means the highways generate far less revenue than expected to retire their debts.

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