I know a large number of people who (along with me) believe that a flat tax or a national sales tax is the only \”fair\” method of taxation.
As to the cost of the toll roads, you don\’t have to use them. In Houston, I use them because they are typically less congested than the freeway system, and I don\’t mind paying extra for the convenience. Perhaps it\’s different in other areas of the country.
As much as I like Easy-pass compared to fishing for change, ever since the introduction of electronic toll collection the toll areas are absolutely frightening places to pass thru.
Considering the use of fuel and the risks of accidents, now is the time to do away with toll areas.
Illinois is absurd because on some roads you must stop every few miles and pay again, even though you are staying on the same road. The NJ Garden State Parkway has a similar absurd approach. Take them all down!
If that\’s too radical here\’s a compromise: isolate the electronic lanes from the cash lanes (for example, all electronic lines on the left and all cash lines on the right) and place enough signs to warn people which side to go to.
I agree. The EZ-tag lanes are definitely more convenient than going through the drive-through lanes where you have to fish for change, and a LOT faster than the full-service lanes where you get change and a receipt.
The main improvement that Houston can make, as I see it, is to make longer re-entry lanes for the change-paying or cash-paying customers so that they have an easier time merging into the higher-speed through lanes that EZ-tag users use. We\’ve had too many accidents caused by attempts at merging traffic from a toll booth into the through lanes.
Of course, this will increase the cost of using these roads; however, I\’m one who wouldn\’t mind paying for the extra safety.
I agree abolish all toll roads find the money somewhere else. I was in Florida leaving the airport first time visitor and within 2 miles of the airport I paid a 75 cent toll twice. And very confused doing it. Let\’s abolish them what a pain.
They need to set them up to make it worth our while to pay the tolls. Start with having mostly toll lanes for those people that have the toll tags. Any lanes for people who do not get the toll tags should be banded together and they have to form one line BEFORE they merge into the (previously) smoothly moving traffic that does have them. That would certainly help traffic by not having people pushing and pushing to get one car ahead or causing traffic to come to a standstill. Are you listening Dallas Texas NTTA??
I am a native resident of Florida and familiar with the toll roads and remember when some were initiated. They just keep building on and adding more tolls and increasing them. I think Montana is the only state I know of puts a toll on a road when the road is paid for it is removed and the maintenance goes into the pot that maintains the rest of the roads. Here in florida they have allowed private enterprises to build some of these roads and that is a huge issue. The tolls are very high. I work 30 miles from work and spend $100 a month on the 417 and 408 toll roads. This is excessive however the free highway has a construction project that will now take 3 years to complete. Which brings me to the 408 has major construction going on and quite dangerous in areas and they still charge tolls to use their dangerous torn up roads. They always have an excuse to extend the road so then charge a toll on the extension til its paid off. I was here when the tolls were 25cents now they are 75cents and the new areas are 1.50 to 2.00 and that is only good for a few miles. Very sad situation. Too bad the DOT did not handle the planning of the highways a bit better so we did not have to use the toll roads at all. Sorry to ramble it is near and dear to my heart and my checkbook.
Toll roads cause the problems? Looks like drivers going too fast, not paying attention and lack of signage directing traffic contributed more than the \”toll gates\”. When people learn to drive better, things may improve.
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I know a large number of people who (along with me) believe that a flat tax or a national sales tax is the only \”fair\” method of taxation.
As to the cost of the toll roads, you don\’t have to use them. In Houston, I use them because they are typically less congested than the freeway system, and I don\’t mind paying extra for the convenience. Perhaps it\’s different in other areas of the country.
As much as I like Easy-pass compared to fishing for change, ever since the introduction of electronic toll collection the toll areas are absolutely frightening places to pass thru.
Considering the use of fuel and the risks of accidents, now is the time to do away with toll areas.
Illinois is absurd because on some roads you must stop every few miles and pay again, even though you are staying on the same road. The NJ Garden State Parkway has a similar absurd approach. Take them all down!
If that\’s too radical here\’s a compromise: isolate the electronic lanes from the cash lanes (for example, all electronic lines on the left and all cash lines on the right) and place enough signs to warn people which side to go to.
The current situation is intolerable.
Doug,
I agree. The EZ-tag lanes are definitely more convenient than going through the drive-through lanes where you have to fish for change, and a LOT faster than the full-service lanes where you get change and a receipt.
The main improvement that Houston can make, as I see it, is to make longer re-entry lanes for the change-paying or cash-paying customers so that they have an easier time merging into the higher-speed through lanes that EZ-tag users use. We\’ve had too many accidents caused by attempts at merging traffic from a toll booth into the through lanes.
Of course, this will increase the cost of using these roads; however, I\’m one who wouldn\’t mind paying for the extra safety.
Here\’s a better idea. Remove them all and make the road safe.
Illinois was supposed to dismantle them many years ago. They just can\’t seem to give money back once the roadway is paid off.
How are they gonna keep giving themselves raises,, and pay for all the pork if they give the money back???
I agree abolish all toll roads find the money somewhere else. I was in Florida leaving the airport first time visitor and within 2 miles of the airport I paid a 75 cent toll twice. And very confused doing it. Let\’s abolish them what a pain.
They need to set them up to make it worth our while to pay the tolls. Start with having mostly toll lanes for those people that have the toll tags. Any lanes for people who do not get the toll tags should be banded together and they have to form one line BEFORE they merge into the (previously) smoothly moving traffic that does have them. That would certainly help traffic by not having people pushing and pushing to get one car ahead or causing traffic to come to a standstill. Are you listening Dallas Texas NTTA??
I am a native resident of Florida and familiar with the toll roads and remember when some were initiated. They just keep building on and adding more tolls and increasing them. I think Montana is the only state I know of puts a toll on a road when the road is paid for it is removed and the maintenance goes into the pot that maintains the rest of the roads. Here in florida they have allowed private enterprises to build some of these roads and that is a huge issue. The tolls are very high. I work 30 miles from work and spend $100 a month on the 417 and 408 toll roads. This is excessive however the free highway has a construction project that will now take 3 years to complete. Which brings me to the 408 has major construction going on and quite dangerous in areas and they still charge tolls to use their dangerous torn up roads. They always have an excuse to extend the road so then charge a toll on the extension til its paid off. I was here when the tolls were 25cents now they are 75cents and the new areas are 1.50 to 2.00 and that is only good for a few miles. Very sad situation. Too bad the DOT did not handle the planning of the highways a bit better so we did not have to use the toll roads at all. Sorry to ramble it is near and dear to my heart and my checkbook.
The taxpayer has aready paid for interstate system and the maintanence is paid by high gas taxes so why do we have tolls on interstate highways.
Toll roads cause the problems? Looks like drivers going too fast, not paying attention and lack of signage directing traffic contributed more than the \”toll gates\”. When people learn to drive better, things may improve.