Posted on 06/01/2008 6:25:41 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Members of the Collin County Commissioners Court are entering unknown waters in the area of transportation. They need to make sure they don't get in over their heads.
At issue is their recent vote to explore formation of the county's own tollway agency, which could compete with the North Texas Tollway Authority for future road projects.
Exploration, fine. Given the scarcity of road-building dollars, exploring alternative ways of paying for highways and seeking fair treatment for Collin County makes sense.
As County Judge Keith Self puts it, "We need to educate ourselves."
As Commissioner Joe Jaynes puts it, "We owe it to our citizens."
However, while sorting out options is a responsible step for public officials, we would part with them if it leads to a go-it-alone adventure that hampers the effort to build a seamless multi-county transportation network.
Good transportation planning recognizes that communities are interrelated and that major transportation projects serve people from far-flung areas. On a smaller scale, it was that logic that led voters to support last year's county bond package despite opposition from Mr. Self, who wanted cities to fend for themselves on road projects.
When it comes to tolls, county officials cite two future projects as "major assets" from which the county should try to reap maximum benefit: the Dallas North Tollway extension north of County Road 428 and the local segment of the 10-county outer loop.
It may sound enticing to independently develop these projects to conserve locally paid tolls for local use. But that could end up being more expensive in the long run. First, the NTTA's toll roads typically have counted on state and local tax money for much of the construction costs. That requires a cooperative financing effort with regional planners and government officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
DFW Outer Loop connecting to TTC PING!
Tread lightly?
I hear many say DON’T TREAD ON ME
...at all.
Yep any outer loop in the DFW metroplex encompassing 10 counties most likely couldn’t avoid the TTC if it tried. Basically the same thing for the Grand Parkway around the Houston area.
More fallout from Ric’s 121 scam. He did a job on Collin County, and then didn’t stick around to take the heat. Of course, the folks in Collin weren’t as upset about how that shook out as the foreign ‘investors’ apparently were.
I live in Collin County, so this story is of interest to me. What’s of greater interest and concern to me though, is the proliferation of toll roads around the DFW metroplex. It can be pretty darn pricey just getting from one side of the metroplex to the other, because of the strategic imposition of these toll roads.
I realize that good roads have to be paid for one way or the other, but I’m thinking I’d rather pay taxes to support them, than have to shell out every darn time I travel.
BTTT
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