Tolls Roads and its Impact on people 

(Eradicate Tolls)

More Plans for Toll in NC
Link to updated page on May 7th 2008

Road Tolls - The Real Problem


(source : http://www.mcs.sdsmt.edu/tkowalsk/colloquium/2004_05/images/TollBooth.jpg)
  • The top reason of traffic jams and hazards especially during peak travel times.
  • It is really double taxation by charging again for building and maintaining roads.
  • Tolls programs never expire even after the road has been paid many times over.
  • Tolls are used past their need as a source of "extra" income to fund other projects.
  • Tolls are a reason for stress to commuter who would like to reach thier destination sooner.
  • Funding via toll projects promotes mismanagement of road budgets that should provide for this requirement.
  • They sell it to you as "a creative financing efforts" to build roads.

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    Tolls roads can only be allowed as the last measure after every other option has been explored to provide funding for that road. It should be based on the strict requirement, that all tolls will be lifted after the cost of the road has been paid off. This is the reason where all toll system breaks down, when this requirement is never honored and all the above problems are allowed to thrive as a form of highway barricades.

    Insist that your taxes are properly used to build and maintain roads in your state.

    Mission Statement

    I am pushing for the eradication of tolls from the US system and support all those who are fighting for this cause in NC, in the USA and other groups around he world. It will be beneficial to join hands and learn from others people and groups who are fighting for the same cause for mainly the same reasons.

    I have send communication to all members of the NC Senate and the House of Representatives, to encourage them to look into this problem. I am hoping I can open enough eyes and minds to encourage them to look at this problem and think from a rational view point and find other ways to fund our roads.

    This web page provide another perspective to help the effort of eliminating tolls.

    Best Regards,
     Solomon Borgawker. (SB)

      Impact


    The joy of driving in toll
    Having lived in New York State and traveled many times to the north eastern states of New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware and Maryland, one of the apparant advantage of migrating to North Carolina was that there were no road tolls here. This was a healthy sign that the NC state was able to provide good roads for its residents and visitors.

    For me the aggravation to pay  toll was eliminated as I never appreciated the mile long lines to pay a buck fifty during peak holiday season. I have never been able to accept how in the United States, which is one of the advanced nations in the world, where time is considered as money, there are thousands of cars waiting at the toll booth to pay a small amount of road tax so they can complete their journey. For many this could be going home everyday after a hard days work, for others visiting family on thanksgiving and other holidays.

    In many cases, the toll  is not a small amount anymore such as the New York City bridges and tunnels. For a journey from NC to NY the tolls add up quickly to almost $20 by the time you are done paying for the many tolls barriers  on that route(Maryland, Delawaye, New Jersey and New York). I am never looking forward to do this road trip even though I would like very much to visit my friends in the north east.
     
     


    Commuter Comments

    source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/strass/27889008/

    I understand that there is a need to fund the building of new roads and maintaining them, but I strongly propose doing this correctly and not imposing additional road use tax when we already are paying for this in the form  of state tax. If the road authority cannot provide the roads that are required, then it should ask for raising the  highway budget and justify this at the state government level. This will help quantify the need for additional taxes to fund them.

    Tolls are additional tax which we might as well pay at one time instead or being harassed on the roads.  Such a proposal of raising funds to build roads using toll booths  is usually, and strangly,  not met with the same opposition by people as when they would exert if the state was raising the general taxes.
     


    The joy of driving in toll

    If you have lived in a state where they collect tolls, then it will be clear to you that this toll is a constant drain on your resources and time that never goes away. These finds are later used as a source of income to fund other activities other than needed for the road.

    It has been reported  that NC has funds alloted for highway work which are transfered to general projects.  Then they approve toll roads for additional funding to do the projects that have been planned for years and paid for such as the outer 540 beltline.

    This is the first time that NC has passed a bill to approve stretches of the 540 belt line to be used as toll roads. It is discouraging to find out that NC is degrading its standards of living by resorting to the practice of toll collection which had been forced upon successful as a tax revenue generators in other states in the USA.
     

    Please oppose such a introduction of toll in NC and encourage the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to put pressure on the state legislators to approve any additional funding that they need from our states taxes. These big ticket items need to be budgeted and accounted for correctly. Support those who will fight this battle for you.

    If you do not agree with this article and have information that supports the use of toll blockades as a mode of raising funds to build roads, then please share it with us so we will be better educated in this matter.

    comments@borgawker.com


    Sign Online Petition to stop tolls on 540
    The recently open section called NC-540 was paid for with tax dollars and federal funding. The NC Turnpike Authority (NCTA) wants to place tolls on it to double dip into our pockets (which is why it is not currently called I-540). The road had to be called NC-540 to get around some of the restrictions in Title 23 United States Code Section 129 "Tolling Agreements". Also, prior to the ammendment to Senate Bill 1381 (passed in July 2006), it was illegal in NC to put a toll on a already existing road, in other words, one that was already paid for with your tax dollars. The ammendment changed that in favor of the NCTA, an organization in which the NC Legislature helped create by appointing its Board of Directors.

    Privitization (a.k.a. - public/private partnership) is NOT the answer. When the NC Legislature ended their 2007 session and the budget did not include the GAP funds ($20 million) the NCTA wanted in order to start building toll roads, they are now looking to privitization. This means a foreign investor could own NC roads. What does a private investor want? Profit. How is profit achieved? High profit is achieved by having higher toll rates and roads that remain tolled for a LONG time. Indiana just recently created such a road and tolls are slated to be on that road for 75 years! Your children's grandchildren (or maybe even great-grandchildren) will still be paying for this HUGE mistake.

    http://www.notollson540.org/whynotolls.php

    Toll Roads ImpactOverseas

    Gurgaon Toll Plaza, India

    The Gurgaon toll plaza is in the news spotlight these days but sadly not for the good reasons.

    A 32 lane toll plaza that was supposed to help ease out the commute from Delhi to Gurgaon has in fact become a big hurdle these days where one can be stuck in a jam for about 1.5 hours or so.

    Ever since it was inaugurated, there has been a huge rush of people to start using it and the systems are unable to handle the rush at all.

    FAQ from NCTA







    How many toll roads will North Carolina have?
    The NCTA is currently authorized to study, plan, develop and undertake preliminary design work on up to nine toll facilities in the state. At the conclusion of these activities, the NCTA is authorized to design, establish, purchase, construct, operate, and maintain the following projects:

        * Monroe Connector/Bypass
        * Gaston East-West Connector
        * Cape Fear Skyway
        * I-74 (Brunswick County)
        * Mid-Currituck Bridge
        * Triangle Expressway
              o Triangle Parkway
              o Western Wake Parkway

    Any other project proposed by the NCTA in addition to the projects listed above must be approved by the NC General Assembly prior to construction.

    Will the Turnpike Authority impose tolls on any existing roads?
    By law, the Turnpike Authority is prohibited from tolling existing highways. However, in July 2006, Senate Bill 1381 was amended to allow the tolling of a segment of I-540 under construction as of July 1, 2006, located in Wake and Durham counties and extending from I-40 southwest to NC-55, with the approval of the local Metropolitan Planning Organization.

    Will tolls pay for the entire cost of construction?
    While it is too soon to tell what the total project costs would be on any of the potential projects, tolls generally only pay for a portion of the total construction cost. Bonds are sold to raise money so that construction can begin sooner. However, funding from the sale of bonds will pay only part of the construction cost for toll roads. Other local and state funds will still be needed to develop the project.

    Per NCTA, preliminary cost of building its proposed Western Wake Parkway on 540 is estimated between $435 million and $780 million. Final costs will be determined during design. It will be open to traffic in Fall 2011.

    News Item : 8/1/2007
    Although several lawmakers tried, this year's budget does not include language that forbids transfers from the highway trust fund into the general fund. Legislators transferred $170 million from the state's Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund.

    News Item : 8/3/2007
    NC House lawmakers had a change of heart when leaders gave the North Carolina Turnpike Authority $20 million to help create the state’s first toll road. However, the measure did not pass the Senate.
     


    Review and Comments :
    A funny way of looking at it :


    In case you are not convinced yet !!!

    References :
    Author : Solomon Borgawker (info@borgawker.com)

    Link to updated on May 7th 2008 : More Plans for Toll in NC

    Information Sources and Additional resources :


    I signed the petition :
    Mr. David McDowell is no longer alone in his efforts to stop the introduction of tolls in NC. I am joining him in my support to oppose tolls on any NC road. Infact I feel that all tolls should be abolished in the USA.

    Like slavery took its time to be abolished, it will take time and perseverance from many more citizens as us to realize the drawbacks of toll. We need to evaluate how we can spend the existing road tax budget correctly.

    My pitch to support this cause is on my web site : http://borgawker.com/toll540/

    - Borgawker.


     

    Subject: Stop Toll Barriers on 540 !

    Dear Friends,
    If your busy schedule does not allow you to learn about the toll issues that have plagued the world in more than one way, please take the time to sign the petition to help others oppose the creation of toll barriers on our free roads.

    My proposal document will help you understand this problem and make your own opinion about how you wish to vote on this issue.
    Tolls in NC and its Impact
    Image :

    To get the details on this issue and stay connected with current events please visit the site where this effort is being spearheaded by David McDowell.

    NO TOLLS ON 540

    IMPORTANT : Sign Online Petition to stop tolls on 540
    - Borgawker

    AAA



    Mayor Keith Weatherly, APEX, NC

    Link to updated on May 7th 2008 : More Plans for Toll in NC

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