Posted on 06/29/2007 10:18:04 AM PDT by calcowgirl
The land of the freeway is poised to become a little less free.
Los Angeles County transit leaders on Thursday agreed to develop plans for toll roads within the next three years, after decades of opposition to the concept of motorists paying tolls to use the roads.
The decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board comes amid criticism that Los Angeles has not joined other metropolitan areas around the nation in experimenting with "congestion pricing," in which motorists pay to use less crowded lanes.
Last month, L.A. County lost out on a major federal grant because it did not have any congestion pricing in the works.
London charges tolls to motorists who drive into the central city during rush hour, a practice New York City is now considering. Closer to home, Orange and San Diego counties have toll roads in which motorists pay for access to less-congested lanes. The toll fee rises based on the amount of traffic, allowing the toll lanes to keep flowing.
And this isn't pocket change: The toll on the 91 Express Lanes between Orange County and Riverside County approaches $10 eastbound during evening rush hour.
Traditionally, L.A. officials have been cool to congestion pricing, with critics calling it "Lexus Lanes" for the rich.
While Orange County officials have built a network of toll roads to address growing traffic, L.A. officials have invested much more heavily in rail and bus service.
But the county's worsening traffic — and the need for more revenue for transit projects — has changed some minds.
"At some point, we have to reduce the number of single-passenger automobiles if we want to reduce gridlock in L.A. County," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
One could also reduce traffic and the need for additional revenues by deporting the millions of illegals in LA.
“... need for additional revenues ...” ??
Heck, the city, county and state would be rolling in dough if we deported all the LA illegals according to existing immigration law.
If they want to increase highway capacity from 15-25% overnight all we need to do is abolish the Commie Lanes. They take up 25% of the freeway lanes but are only used by 2% of the drivers statewide.
http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/mcclintock/article_print.asp?PID=38
As all future freeway expansion (additional lanes and new highway construction) appears to be going to toll roads nationally, when will tax payers be able to deduct from their taxes the thousands in fees they are expected to fork over each year?
So ... remind me again: Why is it we pay such high property taxes, state income taxes, car registration taxes, gasoline taxes, and sales taxes in LA County ? So we can get dumped on as they steal freeway lanes those taxes paid for and set them up toll lanes so we can pay even more for them ?
If somebody wants to build NEW toll roads as an alternative to taxpayer funded roads, using private funds and without resorting to eminent domain seizures, then go right ahead. But stealing lanes and creating MORE congestion in the remaining lanes of taxpayer funded freeways, so they can skim additional revenue off of people’s frustration is unacceptable.
Thanks for bringing that up. The illegal immigration issue is virtually ignored here on FR.
“At some point, we have to reduce the number of single-passenger automobiles if we want to reduce gridlock in L.A. County,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday.....and at some point, we have to reduce the number of politico idiotas like you!
YUP
Breaking news: We have too many people in Los Angeles.
The best traffic day in many years was the ‘day without an illegal’ demonstration. Without the gardening trucks and ‘may pops’ clogging up the 405 it was smooth sailing. I yearn for the return of that demonstration but on a longer basis.
I remember that! I was amazed how empty the freeways were (here in Northern CA) on the “day without illegals.” It never occured to me how much they are driving around. Ever since then, I really notice the gardening trucks now. Every other vehicle is a gardening truck.
Does no one do their own mowing anymore? Here in CA we have postage stamp lawns anyway.
As a side note...Don’t they want to outlaw mowers and barbecues here also?...
ILLEGALS CAUSE GLOBAL WARMING!
I mow my own lawn— it’s approximately 12’ x 15’!
Exactly! It’s not like we have 40 acres in the front and 40 acres in the back.
I don’t understand why anyone would want to use the mow and blows. They carry weeds and seeds from one yard to the next and eventually all the lawns look terrible.
Ban BBQ’s? Outta my cold dead hands! ;)
It’s all about control, flowing down from the federales. Face the facts. The government controls ALL of the ground you walk on, the very air we breathe. When they have total control of the roads and can track us all, when they have control of what we ingest, what we can say, who we can hire, who we can’t fire, and what we can see, then we can truly have freedom and the government can rest easy-—for it has done it’s job.
That time is not far off.
Big Huge BUMP to that!
You Rock! :-)
“
One could also reduce traffic and the need for additional revenues by deporting the millions of illegals in LA.”
Yes, but the streets would be less diverse without all of those garden trucks and smashed up 1986 Ford Escorts spewing exhaust in the glimmering sun of another day in Los Angelos.
What do you have against diversity? ;)
ha!
“Traditionally, L.A. officials have been cool to congestion pricing, with critics calling it “Lexus Lanes” for the rich. “
And too many politicians looking to pick a fight in class warfare.
Don’t worry, with Fred, we will have new highways!
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