Freeways no longer? Interstates might get more tolls

Kansas City Star ^ | April 17, 2012 | By CURTIS TATE

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON -- The federal interstate highway system is showing its age, and, faced with the cost of repairing all those bumps and cracks, some states want to ask motorists to pay tolls on roads that used to be free.

When the interstate system was created in 1956, a federal per-gallon gasoline tax was enacted to provide a stream of revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. The federal government paid 90 percent of the construction costs, with the states making up the rest.

That model worked for decades, but no longer. Americans are driving less because of the economy and higher gas prices, and cars are getting better gas mileage. The federal gasoline tax of 18.4 cents a gallon hasn't changed since 1993.

In recent years, the trust fund has required an annual infusion of general funds just to keep highway spending levels where they are. The Congressional Budget Office said in January that the trust fund might go bankrupt next year.

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the Current Quarter Expenses.

[ConorMacNessa]

"Never mind the many delays and traffic tie ups from all the repair and construction."

In May of last year I drove up to Philly for my daughter's graduation from university. We were stuck a solid forty-five minutes in a several-mile backup approaching the toll station at the beginning of the Delaware Turnpike. This was due to construction of improvements to the toll plaza. I might add that the $4.00 toll you pay for the few miles you drive on I-95 through the miniscule state of Delaware is in my view one of the most rapacious rip-offs anywhere!



Nos genuflectitur ad non princeps sed Princeps Pacem!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[StAnDeliver]

Transportation funds that don’t pay for roads. Gas taxes that don’t pay for roads. Nope, gotta have tolls on top.

[cuban leaf]

Throw a streak of mud across the back of your car to also obscure the first three letters of your plates and you’re good to go.

I refuse to ever pay another toll, one way or another. I’m willing to move, if necessary. Come to think of it, I did, for reasons similar to avoiding tolls.

[Revolting cat!]

Freeways + toll roads =

[a fool in paradise]

I belong to a motor club so I get free-tows.

[a fool in paradise]

As more cars get away from gasoline, the government is going to need to shoot for new sources to pay for roads.

Or they could just charge $4000 a year to license your car.

[a fool in paradise]

In my city, they repainted roads to add a useless, unused bicycle lane. Fewer lanes on the road in each direction means more use in the remaining lanes.

Also, sun wears down a road in the summer even with no traffic.

[a fool in paradise]

Yes, of course. But it’s also covered by high-tech license plate cameras that record every vehicle passing, toll road or not. There is no longer ANY PRIVACY once you leave your driveway (and technically before that, thanks to smart meters).

Since law enforcement agencies have been busted illegally putting tracking devices on observed vehicles, now they will just require that EVERY vehicle be tracked in the absence of any crime or suspicion. You MUST be guilty of something, they just haven't discovered what it may be yet.