STOP: Pay Toll
"I don't think you can take existing roads and turn them into toll roads,” was Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden’s reaction to a proposal that would make I-10 and I-12 pay highways.
And though it was her administration that explored the possibility of putting tolls on south Louisiana interstates, the governor has made it clear that it will not happen.
“No, we're not going to toll I-10 or I-12,” says Governor Blanco. “That's probably not a good idea. And it's not something that can happen in this climate.”
There are arguments on both sides of the issue: it would slow down interstate traffic; it would be an incredible source of revenue for the state; it would discourage traffic using the interstates -- particularly companies coming into the state for rebuilding purposes; and it would be an incredible source of revenue for the state.
I know, I used that last reason twice, but the money the program would generate would be considerable -- after all, I-10 is considered the "corridor of the south". The money could be held in reserve, used for road construction and repair, or implemented anywhere the legislature sees fit.So what do you think? Would a toll system on Louisiana’s interstates do more harm or good?
posted by Joe Rawley at 7:35 PM
14 Comments:
In a heartbeat I would pay a toll, if it would free up some of this traffic we have in Baton Rouge I am all for it. I miss being in Houston and getting on their toll road and getting around all the traffic. Baton Rouge needs a loop around it.
I try and stay off the interstate as much as possible anyway. There always seems to be some accident that clogs it up. Even when I take the surface roads, I seem to get where I going in just about the same amount of time...and the scenery is better!
NO!! I got a better idea. Let's cut her salary in half along with anyone else who wants to make such a suggestion!
Uh, no. There was a toll charged for years at the Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville. I haven't seen any noticable improvement, even after the three year construction event. It looks like maintenance of the structure is a joke. Note: the tolls there were discontinued and then started again after a few years. Nice.
Before tolls can be collected, assurances need to be made that the money would be properly managed. The State of Louisiana has never proved it can do that in history. Why would it start now? Perhaps we should poll only the educators (teachers only since they're the only ones who DON'T get raises), since their "gambling proceeds" for raises seemed to fall a little short.
No, I think it would add delays to an already crowded interstate. I normally tend to take side roads to get around town anyway.
Small minds come up with small ideas. The interstate highways are federal highways, not state highways. My guess is, it's probably not legal for a state to toll an interstate highway. In answer to the question, NO!!!! I would not pay a toll. Just like everything else, this state couldn't/ wouldn't use the revenue to improve or repair highways. Does anyone remember the "Highway Trust Fund" from several years ago. How much of that was spent improving or repairing roads?
Then what is the highway taxes for? The politicians pocket padding? The price of gas increases, taxes increase, and fees increase, while salaries don't. Just how do you expect people to get to work? It already costs me $6.00 a day to go straight to work and back home. (That's just for the gas.)
I guess we will never learn! we need a new think tank army here to try and project our future growth in Baton Rouge. For some reason, the engineers planning the interstate system through Baton Rouge during the 1960's and 70's never seemed to take into consideration the potential and probable growth this city would have. If a toll was passed, yes we would see an increase in highway money. We would also see a dramatic increase of traffic on our already struggling surface streets. We built an interstate hwy. in the swamp, what did we think would happen? Did we think we would have the smoothness of Route 66? No.
We would like to think our state would spend the money properly. However, we as Louisianans know better. Political track records have shown otherwise. We have the money. We have the resources. We need to use them. SAY NO TO THIS! Start calling your Congressmen. Stand up for yourselves Louisiana!
We are already paying over 40cents per gallon in taxes to the feds and state. Did they decide to forgo their tax receipts as gasoline continued to become more expensive? NOPE - I have not seen anyone admit how much the state makes every year on that tax, I also have not seen anyone account for where that money has been spent. Charging a toll on this interstate would only make our traffic situation more impossible. I also believe you can only place a toll on an interstate highway when it is NEW - not 20+ years later. An earlier post mentioned the funds charged in tolls on the Sunshine Bridge - has the state ever released the figures on how much was charged the entire time it was being collected nor what was actually done with the funds. You are going to have to pass out a lot more information before Louisiana citizens agree to tolls, taxes or any other issue to raise money for anything.
Yet another tax! I don't think so.
I travel on bussiness often and somewhat dismayed at the crumbling highway infastructure and lack of quality public schools as compared to other states. This is an accepted way of life by the residents of Louisiana ,they keep paying taxes and the politicians and lobbyist keep taking them . I will sell all
properties and leave the state before I will pay a toll to drive on the same 30+ year old worn out I10/I12 Interstate that Edwin Edwards Built. Maybe our politicians should have to PASS the GED berfore allowing them to run for office! Tolls will do nothing but add another burden to taxpayers with no benifits.
There are some states that have turnpikes in place that were made with tolls in mind and people use them for convenience knowing that they will pay for that convenience.
The issue here on I-10/12 is poor future planning and engineering on the part of DOTD,like the one lane coming off of the east-bound side of the new Mississippi River bridge. Louisiana's roads have been attrocious for years, case in point I-55 from Hammond to the Mississippi state line. Other states in the region do an exceptional job of maintaining their roads appropriately by performing maintenance overlays(stripping the top several inches of asphalt and relaying a new layer)on a frequent basis. LA DOTD seems to think it is ok to build a road and expect it to last for 30 years with minimal upkeep from a poor excuse for maintenance crews.
The maintenance should be privatized instead of left up to more bureaucrats. And the expense of those maintenence overlays is actually less in the long-run with short-term dividends of roads that we can be proud of and don't prematurely end a cars life.
The issues with our roads and schools goes to the core of the good ole' boy system and continual mismanagement that exists here in Louisiana. This is the place where I grew up and came back to after several years of military service, but I don't want to see the problems we have perpetuated for the upcoming generations. If we can get our act together both with transportation and education, we are poised for growth here in this great state in the post-Katrina era.
Yes I Would pay a toll. I think of Florida's toll system and how much nicer the roads are there I think it would help some. But Let's think SUN PASS
Why should we pay a toll? I was in Dallas for a while, and it was a pain. We would pay a toll to use an interstate that already has cracks and potholes big enough to cause damage. So I say nooo way!
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