what is the reason for toll booths, or toll roads

[k0ruptr]

besides money, dont they cause more problems for people?

[dervack]

Yes, which is why more and more states are adopting ez pass type systems. Hell, in Illinois, they doubled the toll rates for non I-Pass users to get more people to use it. I know in Illinois, the money collected is supposed to go towards road improvements, among other things.

[stevew]

It's an attempt, anyways, to more directly charge the end user for a service, most likely a convenient road built, perhaps as a shortcut. For instance, theoretically all the tolls taken on a bridge are supposed to go to the upkeep of said bridge. Those of us that never use that bridge are not forced as much to subsidize it. Same thing with the interstate.

But in the end, most likely, all the money goes to one central place and gets divided up into things that perhaps it was not intended to.

[k0ruptr]

wow, im really glad there is no toll booths in hawaii. our economy is fucked enough as it is.

[sachmo71]

Dallas is starting to undergo a toll road explosion. And while I understand the concept, more and more I find the thought of them infuriating.

[RPI-Fan]

Toll roads are one of the most interesting new business opportunities. The "rights" to toll roads are starting to be sold to private companies, who can then run them essentially as a "business". I know of a toll road in Minnesota that cuts up to 50% off of a somewhat common route, and charges $8 for use instead of the "normal" interstate.

[azjoe_02]

$8!! That sounds crazy. We don't have any toll roads in Phoenix and I am glad. Just wondering now what others are paying as a normal toll fee.

[Craptacular]

Toll roads are one of the most interesting new business opportunities. The "rights" to toll roads are starting to be sold to private companies, who can then run them essentially as a "business". I know of a toll road in Minnesota that cuts up to 50% off of a somewhat common route, and charges $8 for use instead of the "normal" interstate.

I believe what you're referring to are the HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes west of Minneapolis. These are converted HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle ... carpool) lanes, in which carpools, buses, and motorcycles can use it for free, but single occupant vehicles can pay a fee based on congestion pricing. The price goes up when congestion goes up. These were existing lanes previously built by MnDOT, that were converted to HOT lanes.

The first part of your quote is a little different, and Minnesota is looking at them as FAST (Freeing Alternatives for Speedy Transportation) lanes. I believe California has one of these already. This is where a private company or public / private partnership can build new lanes adjacent to existing public highways (could be in the median), and charge tolls, often based on congestion pricing as well.

The most recent transportation bill opened the door for more tolls, congestion pricing, etc. I'm surprised they had time to deal with that, as they had to work hard at the more than 5000 pieces of pure pork that were inserted.

[JeeberD]

Dallas is starting to undergo a toll road explosion. And while I understand the concept, more and more I find the thought of them infuriating.

The new toll on 121 pisses me off, but luckily the part of that highway that I travel frequently isn't tolled (yet)...

[Young Drachma]

I'm cool with E-470 in Colorado. Sure does make getting to the airport a lot speedier.

But then, I'm from New Jersey. I grew up paying tolls, doesn't bother me that much.

[sachmo71]

The new toll on 121 pisses me off, but luckily the part of that highway that I travel frequently isn't tolled (yet)...

And I guess I understand the need...road maintenance is expensive. I get that. But I don't know enough about the split, and I get the feeling that these businesses that run them are making money. I don't think they should.

[sabotai]

But then, I'm from New Jersey. I grew up paying tolls, doesn't bother me that much.

I was going to say the same thing. Growing up in New Jersey, toll roads are second nature to me.

But heads will roll if I ever have to pump my own gas!!!

[QuikSand]

There's a matter of philosophy in how to pay for public services. Highways and bridges allow for several choices in that regard.

-You can tax everyone, through general taxes on income, sales, or similar methods, and use those revenues to pay for highways

-You can tax products like gasoline and target those revenues to transportation programs, in an effort to have the users of the roadways pay for their upkeep

-You can use tolls and the like to try to even more narrowly target the actual users of a given facility for its costs

People have differing views on what mix of these approaches is best as a matter of policy, but this is a fundamental decision in revenue structures, and funding highways and bridges is about as clear an example as exists.

[cartman]

I-30 between Dallas and Fort Worth used to be a toll road. It was setup to be a toll road until the building costs were recouped. And, amazingly enough, once that amount was collected, the toll booths came down. I'm not sure if that same situation is in place for these newer toll roads.

It appears that the European model is going to become more prevalent here in the US. Over there, private companies build the highways and run the toll systems to keep them operational. You think some of our tolls are bad, it would usually cost me at least 25 Euro in tolls each way when I would drive from Milan to Monte Carlo, a distance of a little over 200 miles.

[Rizon]

I'm against troll roads and hippie lanes. If public transportation didn't suck so much fat ass we wouldn't have to drive around Solo style everywhere.

[Airhog]

Im kinda split on them. the toll roads in oklahoma seem to be better maintained for the most part than the highways that are not toll roads. I really dont mind them, as long as there is an alternative state highway I guess

[sterlingice]

I think I-70 in Kansas City is a perfect illustration of toll money actually working. On the Kansas side, there's a pristine stretch of highway that gets redone once every 4 or 5 years and is always in good shape. The Missouri side is a patchwork of crap which where it's next repaving will be its first (ok, so there's a bit of hyperbole there). I don't mind paying my $1.40 each direction to drive the ~25 miles from Lawrence to Kansas City every morning to get a better road out of it all. At least it's a tax where I can see it doing the work.

SI