SH-130 Tollroad to be bankrupt by June 2014 (Austin, Fort Worth: sales, how much)

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Raise the stupid gasoline tax already!!!

If both the Texas legislature and the US congress did not divert 35% or more of the state & federal gas tax revenue into non-road projects, then there would be no need to raise said taxes.

What makes you think those jamokes would do anything different with the additional revenue from tax increases that they've been already doing for decades?

[TexasHorseLady]

I didn't arrive until 1969, when I35 was up and running. Apparently land started being purchased for it in 1946, and by the time my sister was attending Southwestern University, we were taking something that my Daddy CALLED I35 every time we dropped her off for school, picked her up, or visited her. It was being worked on then, so we always went through construction zones, but, then, I've gone through construction zones in I35 every time I've driven it since, and that was in 1954!

[scm53]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Raise the stupid gasoline tax already!!!

Money isn't the issue on relieving 35 congestion. Geography is.

There MAY be space to add two lanes between 51st and downtown - which is the cause of miles of backups at peak times. Those will almost certainly be managed lanes - and will be congestion tolled, no matter what happens to 130.

I understand tolling 35 will impact your life - more than the rest of us, but we will all be impacted. Do you have any thoughts on reducing congestion on 35?

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by scm53

Money isn't the issue on relieving 35 congestion. Geography is.

There MAY be space to add two lanes between 51st and downtown - which is the cause of miles of backups at peak times. Those will almost certainly be managed lanes - and will be congestion tolled, no matter what happens to 130.

I understand tolling 35 will impact your life - more than the rest of us, but we will all be impacted. Do you have any thoughts on reducing congestion on 35?

I am in favor of congestion tolling and I think that the incremental changes for I35 that are well into planning stages will make a small difference. TxDOT is in the middle of doing public presentations on them right now.

I do think that one underlying issue that is difficult to solve is how frequently I35 is used by local residents for trips of 5-10 miles or less, it is a key artery in the city. North-south traffic and congestion was an issue 20 years ago when I moved here!

I do feel lucky to live close enough in that I avoid the trap of multiple light cycles at jammed intersections prior to getting on the interstate and now many major accidents happen at choke points outside the central city (Grand Ave to the north, Stassney to the south) that don't affect me.

Perhaps improvements to 183 on the east side could provide some relief to I35 congestion?

[ScoPro]

So congestion tolling won't hit the poorest workers downtown the most?

Since gentrification is driving the blue collar infrastructure workers - the custodians, secretaries, clerks, hotel maids, restaurant dishwashers, fast food workers, etc. out to the burbs, and now y'all want to screw them for getting to their jobs?

Is that why some are now demanding $15/hour minimum wage, so it can be "tolled" by the city?


Inquiring minds...blahblahblah...

[centralaustinite]

Right now there doesn't seem to be another funding mechanism available for roads! Gasoline tax is the same now as it was in 1982. You don't want to raise the gasoline tax or use congestion tolling, so what road funding mechanism do you propose?

[scm53]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

So congestion tolling won't hit the poorest workers downtown the most?

Inquiring minds...blahblahblah...

It isn't binary - no toll, or the impact totally felt. Congestion tolling would be variable - high some times, negligible at others. Car or van pooling would divide the cost. Express buses or park and rides basically "exempt" one from any toll.

I-35 is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons. No one will modify their behavior until an external influence forces it. Expanding 35 through the downtown core isn't a viable option. Interested in what you would do.

[texan2yankee]

People won't pay the toll to save 15 minutes. Bad idea.

[ppp38]

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

People won't pay the toll to save 15 minutes. Bad idea.

Exactly this. Very few people use the tolls now, there is no reason to think that adding more toll roads will suddenly lead to more people using them. The gas tax needs to be raised and used solely for road projects.

Also, its not just maids, servers, cleaners, etc.. there are also many State, County and City workers downtown (not to mention UT employees) who have to commute because central Austin is simply unaffordable for the average person.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by ppp38

The gas tax needs to be raised and used solely for road projects.

Tolling I 35 isn't a funding issue - it is a congestion issue. All the money on earth won't fix that problem.

Over to you for suggestions. All of you anti-toll folks are conspicuously silent on that.