Posted on 07/13/2005 9:14:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - A bill that would increase tolls on Bay Area bridges to pay for earthquake safety upgrades passed the California Assembly Wednesday and now goes to the governor for his approval.
The Assembly voted 58-6 for the measure, which would result in toll increases of at least $1 on most Bay Area bridges. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders came to an agreement on the plan last month, ending a dispute between the Republican governor and San Francisco area legislators over how to cover $3.6 billion in cost overruns, mainly from the Bay Bridge project.
The bill would raise tolls starting Jan. 1, 2007, from $3 to $4 on the Bay Bridge and six other state-owned bridges - the San Mateo, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Benicia and Antioch crossings. The toll on the Golden Gate Bridge, which is operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, would remain at $5.
The toll increases are expected to raise at least $2.15 billion to help cover the overruns. The state will provide $630 million, and another $820 million will come from refinancing the debt on bridge bonds.
The bill also gives the Bay Area Toll Authority the power to raise tolls more if the $1 increase was inadequate.
If the overruns are less than $3.6 billion, the tolls could be reduced along with the state's burden.
The agreement also clears the way for construction of the soaring suspension design for a portion of the new eastern span.
It matches the soaring indifference state legislators and leaders show towards being responsible when it comes to spending and gubamint.
..just one more reason not to go there.
When is the date on this toll increase est to stop.
..have no idea.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Well, if they stopped using the tolls to subsidize the money-losing golden gate transit (or whatever it's called), they wouldn't need to keep raising the tolls. And if the gas taxes collected actually went to keeping our roadways updated and pothole-free instead of into the general fund....... But of course they always just want more and more and more of our money.
Why doesn't the Bay Area Public get to vote on this?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"LOL! You want liberals to force the rest of us to foot the bill for their Boston Big Dig equivalent project? Thanks but no thanks."
No, I'm just saying that they should vote on whether the tolls should be raised to pay for the project. If they vote no, then they will have to find some other way to finance it or recieve a plain skyway, like the Governor wanted.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
"The Bay Area gets a new bridge. And the Bay Area's Lefties will cough up the user fees on their commute. A win win for fiscal sanity."
Perhaps so. But I am one Bay Area "Righty" who will also have to cough up more money on MY commute!! I don't like it at all. They should have stuck with Ah-nold's plain causeway design (cheaper), and to heck with what the loons in SF thought. If the people in SF want to have another "beautiful" bridge to look at, why do I need to pay for it?!?! Since the animals in SF were so adament about having the more expensive "beautiful" bridge, THEY should have been made to pay the extra money for it.
Like all great taxes. It never goes away! Same as the phone tax to pay for the SA war.
The toll was to go away when the bridge was paid for. Which was about 50 years ago.
Do you know how much toll takers make? Don’t know what it is now but back in 78 It
was $30+K I sure it’s much more now.
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