some think others should buy the roads and make them privately owned and make then toll rds... so they can take care of them ...
and some want to just raise the gas tax ... depending on how much ...
I believe that would be the best way ... so long as the tax went to fix the rds and not in someones pocket...


any opinions ...



http://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2017/05/16/letters-may-use-gas-tax-toll-roads-pay-roads/101764656/

it would not allow me to read more than the first sentence

but those using the road already pay for the road via registration and taxes for their plates, which make them eligible to drive on the roads

Roads are paths.
msharmony is right, roads are paid by taxes already. That would be double dipping.
The only requirement for a road is that it is safe to drive on.
We all want roads that you can drive at 70 mph but a dirt path can still be a road. If the road has too many potholes and there isn't money to fix them then the speed limits should be reduced until they are safe at the posted speed.
Heaven forbid someone might need to slow down, pay attention and be patient.
We are making our own problems.

It's become an annoying fad these days, for people to declare that "those who actually USE things, should have to pay all of the cost of them." It's being applied to everything from health care, to roads, to schools.

What I wish more people would put some thought into, is how all of these things, roads, schools and so on, all affect every aspect of EVERYONE'S lives, whether you actually directly use them yourself or not.

Such as: the reason why the food you eat is as cheap as it is, is in part, because there is a huge infrastructure of transportation, that allows food providers to get those foods to your table efficiently. And the reason why the roads can be maintained for an affordable price, is because the school systems exist to provide both the workforce, and the management required to do THAT task. I think health ought to be recognized in the same way, but that's not for this thread.

My main point is, to suggest that everyone resist the temptation to believe the FALSE idea that their own overall wealth would increase, if things like road systems were privatized. The opposite would happen.

How do I know that? History. Before roads were changed from belonging only to private people, especially kings and such, the fees charged on them strangled commerce, and almost everyone was poor, except the kings.

me and 190,000 other people in cars cross the Verrazano Narrows bridge every day ( when I lived there)... at $15.00 a trip.. every day

So much for the roads being paid for by license plates and registration.

BTW it just went up to $17.00.. to cross a friggin bridge.

some are owned ... and even named after a person ...
but seems double dipping has been going on ...
and some already with tolls ...
an holy **** on that bridge toll...


maybe that comment I posted was for rds ...
in certain states that don't have them ...


but even paying what we are for travel ...
should be enough but some rds still are bad ...

Yeah, that kind of mess is common. It's the direct result of political game playing. When raising the gas tax is politically unfeasible, they raise tolls. When raising tolls isn't possible, they hide the additional tax in something else. You want to be able to get where you are going efficiently and safely? You'll have to pay for it one way or another. Any politician who claims they can get you what you want for free, is either too ignorant to put in office, or is pulling a fast one.

Roads shouldn't be private, but state governments shouldn't be allowed to use money specifically designated to cover infrastructure costs for anything else but infrastructure. This is too common of an occurrence.

So, whats next?

A chip on a card that you insert in your car dashboard so you can start the engine. You pay a charge to operate on any roads for a number of miles for a certain fee? When you run out of credits your car shuts down until you put more money on it? (Think prepaid cell phones)

How about a GPS based program that tracks your movements and sends you a bill per month for the roads you used? You don't pay your bill your car is disabled thru its computer like OnStar.

What about a mandatory work program where you earn road credits by assisting first-hand with road construction and repair? No road credits, your license is revoked.

Roads are expensive.
They are not fully paid for by gas taxes, emissions taxes, license and registration fees.
In order for designated taxes to pay for roads, they'd all have to double or triple or more.

All municipal, county, state, and federal debt has some component that is being used for roads.
If you've ever paid any kind of tax (sales, property, income, etc.) some part of it goes towards road building and maintenance.
Everybody pays for roads.

Roads/land that become toll roads aren't "bought" by a private company.
They are leased from the government.
Off topic but I wonder if you believe having a title and warranty deed to your house makes you feel you actually own it, rather than just leasing it from the government.

Anyway, toll roads are generally better maintained with better quality materials.

IMO mostly because of the difference in goals.

Toll company: "The company has a lease for 80 years, guaranteed road monopoly. We want the cheapest materials, that will last the life of the lease, requiring the least amount of upkeep, which will always be increasing in price, thereby maximizing our long term profit."

Politician(s): "I want to remain in office. I want to be seen as doing something good for people and the community. I want the cheapest materials that will last the amount of time I'm in office, at least this election cycle. I want the people who put me here to be happy with me so will vote for me again, so less taxpayer money is to be used, generating more short term gratifying optics for me, that I'm saving them money, while giving them what they want, as long as I'm here."

Not to mention, cheaper/lower quality materials = more frequent upkeep = creating/keeping more jobs. Good for politicians.
More expensive/higher quality materials = less frequent upkeep = lower labor costs, fewer road crew labor union jobs. Good for profit.

More incentive for private companies to focus on higher initial investment for cheaper long term costs, to maximize long term profits, given a guaranteed minimum business operations lifespan.
More incentive for politicians to focus on lowering taxpayer costs at all times with less scope beyond the next election.


Other than that, gas tax, toll road, it's mostly just switching responsibility for a tax hike. Accounting gimmicks.
Increase government revenue stream via leased toll roads, toll company gets the blame for increasing wallet outflow.

Doesn't really matter.
At best roads become a little less fueled by additional debt.
Growth in debt isn't as much. No cut in debt or taxes just less growth.