Posted on 09/05/2016 8:08:00 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
In the year 2042, something potentially significant to Central Florida motorists could happen.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority, which operates 109 miles of toll roads in Orange County, will have paid off its $4.3 billion in bonds.
But when the roads are paid for, what happens to the tolls? Many drivers would love to see them disappear.
"That would be a big break for a lot of people," said Steven Dewdney, an Orlando resident.
But because Central Florida has growing transportation needs and will need to build more roads and support commuter rail, removing tolls are unlikely, experts say.
The authority's 2040 preliminary plan is looking at building another 80 miles of roadways with a projected cost of $3.2 billion to $4.5 billion. Many details are not yet available, but it may widen the BeachLine Expressway and parts of State Road 429 as well as build roads in east Orange and Osceola counties.
As transportation coffers are hamstrung by low gas tax revenues, toll dollars are increasingly seen as the new key for funding construction. Authorities across the country have paid for other transportation projects using toll dollars, and some Central Florida toll board members expressed openness to the idea.
Looking at other options for transportation dollars is a "long-range goal of ours," said Welton Cadwell, chairman for the authority. "We're open to any other options that can enhance our users and the folks who aren't using the system."
The Central Florida authority is the second-biggest regional tolling authority in the country, according to federal data. It collected $350 million in toll revenues in its 2015 fiscal year, an 80 percent increase from its 2006 revenues, and that is forecast to keep rising.
In Central Florida, such funding could be especially relevant.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Tolls, the grift that keeps on getting.
Toll the roads to support building rail. A liberal's dream come true.
Toll the roads to support building rail. A liberal’s dream come true.
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Don’t forget bicycle paths and urban mass transit.
Houston opened the Sam Houston Tollway back in the 80's. They had a free concert featuring "The Bangles" to open it up.
The county promised the toll booths would come down when the road was paid for. It's been paid for years and it's still one of the most expensive toll roads in the country per mile.
I’d bet good money that the number of tolls for bridges and roads that governments have sunsetted can fit into a Post It note.
New York promised to end Thruway tolls once the bonds were paid off. Never happened.
The Hatem bridge has been long since paid for. As has, I believe the Susquehanna river bridge.
I remember when the tolls were raised from $2 to $5, the Baltimore Sun (a.k.a. “the Blight for All”) had a snotty editorial that stated $5 was not too much to pay. People could afford it, etc. etc.
When the MTA raised the tolls to $8, I attended a town meeting about it. There was fear over what the truckers would do at the toll booths (truckers pay much higher rates, based on the number of axles).
There was universal opposition. So what did the MTA do?
Put in the $8 rates.
They will hike it again. Just watch.
Over 50 per cent of drivers now have the "EX-Pass" type transponders that automatically deduct tolls from their bank accounts. So people drive through them without even knowing how much they are being charged.
At some point, there will be automated tolls on virtually ever highway and it will cost the average motorist between $500 and $1,000 per month to drive he roadways.
Ironic it was a “free” concert!
Right. Instead they rolled the thruway (Interstate 90) up with the Erie canal and made it one big “authority”. Your Thruway tolls now pay for operation of the canal that is only sparsely used by pleasure boats and for a bicycle trail that runs along it.
To much money to grifted by government.
Well how else would they pay for the now retired Expressway employees Pensions?
There fixed it.
There is nothing as long-lived as a temporary tax.
408 aka the beeline goes from Orlando to the East coast. It was supposed to be paid for and tolls dropped about 30-40 years ago but the road always needed repairs and expansion so it’s still a toll road.
HaHaHaHaHa!!!!
Ask the Bay Area how many times the Golden Gate bridge has been paid off,, and what it subsidizes today.
Bridges are like golden geese.. slap some tollbooths up and reap the wealth.. well, spread it around anyway.
At some point, there will be automated tolls on virtually ever highway and it will cost the average motorist between $500 and $1,000 per month to drive he roadways.
This is quite possible. What should frustrate all of us, is that we already pay substantial gas taxes, each time we go to the gas station. These gas taxes are supposed to pay for road maintenance.
This prompts me to wonder, where are our gas taxes going, if there will be the need to charge more and more tolls on various roads????
The bond for the Mass Turnpike has been paid off a dozen times over. Yet the Pols keep floating a new bond whenever the old one is close to being paid off. The tolls will never go away because a politician never met a tax he didn’t like.
Correctamundo. The Mass Turnpike is taking down their toll booths and are requiring the use of EZ-Pass transponders. If you don't have one, that's ok, they'll just send you a bill. Don't wanna pay it? That's ok. Just try getting your license or registration renewed. They get you coming and going. Pun intended.
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