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.

[umgud]

CA gets $0.30+ per gallon just in sales taxes, which go straight to general fund use.

[pacpam]

Somehow, the fact the highway fund is now a transportation fund that includes bicycles, rapid transit, local transit, etc, anything besides highway maintenance, is left out of the mix.

[TheRobb7]

If you tax a certain activity or behavior, you will get LESS of that behavior.

Having to pay MORE just to use the same roads will futher induce staying home....

THEN where will the Government be?

(I’m sorry, did someone say “slippery slope?”)

[hinckley buzzard]

The Interstate Highway System is "Infrastructure" at its best. The Constitution calls for the federal government to provide for the common defense (Interstates were sold as necessary for internal transport of military goods and personnel in case of invasion) and also to provide roads, canals etc.

Funded by government but built by the private sector, the Interstates opened up vast stretches of America to fast, efficient connection with the outside world, resulting in enormous economic growth and prosperity to regions otherwise left isolated.

Whatever funding scheme serves best to maintain this unique highway system, it will be worth it.

[GOPJ]

...the fact the highway fund is now a transportation fund that includes bicycles, rapid transit, local transit, etc, anything besides highway maintenance, is left out of the mix.

Odd how the MSM tends to miss certain categories of things...

[ml/nj]

Aren't you glad now that the do-gooders busted the highway trust?

ML/NJ

[sam_paine]

Whatever funding scheme serves best to maintain this unique highway system, it will be worth it.

Clearly there is a fuel price at which point shipping will be constrained via truck. And ebay and amazon will close shop sometime before then.

[Keith in Iowa]

They never have been “free”ways... they’ve always been payways - the payment mechanism is just going to become more obvious.

[ConorMacNessa]

Living in the People's Republic of Maryland, I've been used to paying exorbitant tolls for decades. We just got hit with increases for I-95, the bridges over the Susquehanna, the Governor Nice Bridge, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the tunnels through Baltimore. When I started driving almost a half-century ago, the trip from the D.C. suburbs to Philadelphia cost a few bucks - gas was $.329 per gallon and the tolls on the way up were less than $5.00. Now, it seems between gas and tolls that the sky is the limit.



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)

[boop]

This article makes no sense. If people are driving less, because of high gas prices, shouldn't the roads wear out less, too? Plus where the f*** are my tax dollars going? Isn't that what our taxes PAY for? Roads?

I'm sick to death of this BS that the government doesn't have "enough" money to pay for schools or roads. They take way more than is necessary. Cut out the Davis-Bacon union wage and pension garbage and there's be plenty of $ left over to run this country very comfortably.

[Lockbox]

Gee less traffic equals less wear and tear, so what’s the deal!

[elkfersupper]

If we're going to have toll roads, then get rid of the federal, state and local taxes on gasoline, along with the regulations that stand in the way of producing more. Only government would have the audacity to chide, regulate and price us into higher fuel efficiency and then gripe about decreased tax revenue.

Sheesh!

[GonzoGOP]

Clearly there is a fuel price at which point shipping will be constrained via truck. And ebay and amazon will close shop sometime before then.

No they will just ship interstate on Warren Buffett's railroad. Now I'm all for rail/truck competition. I just don't like the government being a player. Every time the government gets involved things go to heck. Every one of the western railroads built with land grants from the government went bust. Only the Great Northern, built entirely with private money, avoided going bankrupt. They built track where it wasn't needed just to get the grants, and then couldn't afford to maintain and operate the meandering lines.

Any taxes on gas or tolls should go to maintain the roads. Nothing more.

[cripplecreek]

Absolutely. The people mover in Detroit is a beautiful example of what’s wrong. Riders pay a total of 7% of its total operating costs, the rest comes from other sources (taxes). It appears that 25% rider funding is enough to consider most mass transit a great success.

From my local paper I see the liberals in Jackson Michigan are whining about needing $100,000 to repave a bike path and feel that the city or county should pay for it. I suggested taking up a collection but the liberals said that people who didn’t pay would use it. (so much for that sharing crap LOL) Instead they feel that its OJ to take the money by force to a tiny fraction of a single percent can have a smooth ride.

[bravo whiskey]

so air travel is turned into an all-day pain in the butt procedure by the f’ng fascist federal gov’t. then they keep gas prices high to keep people from traveling and now, because that isn’t enough we’ll make the roads toll roads so food coasts more, people stay at home and become even more dependant on the FFFG

[Gator113]

This corrupt POS government is sure taking some of the fun out of being retired.

[cicero2k]

Why do I think that if freeways have tolls, it will be means tested?

“Toll stamps” given out to the politically connected.

[EGPWS]

That model worked for decades, but no longer.

Now we have illegal immigrant welfare to pay for without telling the public that is where their money is going.

[Vince Ferrer]

And the tolls will of course be the electric kind that can track your movements.