Comments on: Toll Roads Catching On http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:45:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mark http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/comment-page-1/#comment-44158 Mark Thu, 28 Apr 2005 16:49:25 +0000 /?p=10267#comment-44158 Several years to complete the Dulles Metro extension? More like many, many, many years! Last time I read it was scheduled to be completed in 2011. Several years to complete the Dulles Metro extension? More like many, many, many years! Last time I read it was scheduled to be completed in 2011.

]]> By: DC Loser http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/comment-page-1/#comment-44150 DC Loser Thu, 28 Apr 2005 16:26:47 +0000 /?p=10267#comment-44150 shoulda said, don't be blaming them for this mess. shoulda said, don't be blaming them for this mess.

]]> By: DC Loser http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/comment-page-1/#comment-44149 DC Loser Thu, 28 Apr 2005 16:26:00 +0000 /?p=10267#comment-44149 Actually, the Nazis built the autobahn, so be blaming them for this mess. Actually, the Nazis built the autobahn, so be blaming them for this mess.

]]> By: Scott Dillard http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/comment-page-1/#comment-44143 Scott Dillard Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:54:32 +0000 /?p=10267#comment-44143 A lot of us here in CA would gladly pay to use these roads. But we have to battle endlessly with the "elistist" label. We are constantly told that "the poor" won't be able to afford the tolls. So? Some poor people don't have cars. So what? Some poor can't afford $900,000 condos. That doesn't mean we don't build them for those who can. We would also, I believe, be willing to pay somewhat higher taxes for highway construction if they actually got built! Every time someone proposes a new highway, it's years of legal hassles with "environmentalists" who find another frog. Or anti-growth Nazis who say we should all live in 500 sq ft apartments next to train stations. A lot of us here in CA would gladly pay to use these roads. But we have to battle endlessly with the "elistist" label. We are constantly told that "the poor" won't be able to afford the tolls. So? Some poor people don't have cars. So what? Some poor can't afford $900,000 condos. That doesn't mean we don't build them for those who can. We would also, I believe, be willing to pay somewhat higher taxes for highway construction if they actually got built! Every
time someone proposes a new highway, it's years of legal hassles with "environmentalists" who find another frog. Or anti-growth Nazis who say we should all live in 500 sq ft apartments next to train stations.

]]> By: DC Loser http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/comment-page-1/#comment-44136 DC Loser Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:26:32 +0000 /?p=10267#comment-44136 The Riverside Freeway HOT lanes have been there since the early 90s. I was one of those who were usually stuck in the free lanes watching the Lexuses passing by. The Riverside Freeway HOT lanes have been there since the early 90s. I was one of those who were usually stuck in the free lanes watching the Lexuses passing by.

]]> By: Dodd http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/toll_roads_catching_on/comment-page-1/#comment-44131 Dodd Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:07:36 +0000 /?p=10267#comment-44131 San Diego had some rush-hour only (direction changed morning and afternoon and access was blocked other times), pay-to-use express lanes when I lived there in the early- to mid-90s. IOW, Bush has absolutely nothing to do with this (nit that that's ever stopped a Bush-basher before). And it's a great idea. The people who benefit pay, those who don't think it's worth it to save 1 1/2 hours don't. I'd happily pay it myself since 1 1/2 hours of my time is worth more to me than 11 bucks, but if others don't want to, they aren't forced to. I haven't got any numbers, but I'd be willing to bet that it actually goes the other way and the high fees to use these lanes exceed the additional costs of having them, which, if correct, would mean that the people using them are subsidizing everyone else). San Diego had some rush-hour only (direction changed morning and afternoon and access was blocked other times), pay-to-use express lanes when I lived there in the early- to mid-90s. IOW, Bush has absolutely nothing to do with this (nit that that's ever stopped a Bush-basher before).

And it's a great idea. The people who benefit pay, those who don't think it's worth it to save 1 1/2 hours don't. I'd happily pay it myself since 1 1/2 hours of my time is worth more to me than 11 bucks, but if others don't want to, they aren't forced to. I haven't got any numbers, but I'd be willing to bet that it actually goes the other way and the high fees to use these lanes exceed the additional costs of having them, which, if correct, would mean that the people using them are subsidizing everyone else).

]]>