Expect toll roads to be fact of life

[thelakelander]

Is FDOT that addicted to diesel exhaust that they refuse to accept that the last view of the private sector was investor's ba-donka-donks running away from the boondoggle?  Roads like this are a money loser, plain and simple.  No amount of spin is going to make this a wise investment for taxpayers.

Seriously, what's wrong with the "no build" option and working to find solutions to real congestion problems impacting our region?  Other than not having the extra capacity for more unsustainable sprawl, what would Duval and Clay lose?  A McDonalds or two?  Another single family home subdivision with 1/2-acre lots? 

Last week Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and officials with the Florida Department of Transportation announced the state was moving forward with a plan to put tolls on Florida 23, from Interstate 10 to Blanding Boulevard, probably 15 cents a mile.

Tolls would begin in 2016 when the $291 million project concludes.

The return of tolls has frustrated many who thought the half-cent sales tax approved by voters to replace the toll revenue meant the tolls were never coming back. But state officials say they had two choices: Toll the road or don't build it.

"We believe this road is important to the future of the area, and this was the only way to get it going," said Alan Mosley, head of the Florida Department of Transportation in Northeast Florida.

The road is already there.  Last week's article mentioned 20,000 use it today and 20,000 would use it after the $291 million bonfire.  Considering people can drive on it today with no congestion, who are the improvements important too?

The problem is the gas tax isn't generating as much revenue as before. Cars are more fuel-efficient, and with high gas prices people are driving less, meaning less gas tax money.

"We're reaching a point where the gas tax will mainly focus on maintaining existing roads," Samuel said. "Any major new project will need to be tolled."

He predicts there will eventually be a need to toll existing roads just for maintenance.

"Lawmakers like Mica say they don't want to do that," Samuel said. "But in the end, I don't think they're going to have a choice."

This is what happens when you invest public money in unsustainable road projects.  Perhaps its time, to better utilize existing transportation network by modifying land use policy instead of not accepting reality that the world around us is changing and dropping billions of road construction is not a viable long term economic solution?

One complicating factor is that much of the road already exists, and drivers travel it free. But Mosley said the road was being altered so much that it was essentially a new road. He also suggested residents would like this toll road better than the old booths that dotted Jacksonville because all tolls will be debited electronically.

Samuel, who's based in Maryland, chuckled when told of Mosley's comments.

"Saying it's a new road is a common argument that I personally don't think is very realistic," he said.

Definitely agree with Samuel here.  The road is already there and it isn't a viable alternative to Blanding right now.  Why invest $291 million for an improvement that will result in the same number of cars using it, that are on the street today?

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-08-22/story/expect-toll-roads-be-fact-life#comment-458968