Gas Tax Increase/Extension

[thelakelander]

By the way, anyone ever find what happened to the $100 million Better Jax Plan money for mass transit?

^The courthouse.  That's my guess.

[CS Foltz]

stjr.............I am with you on this one! I have had more than enough with JTA and the lack of planning, vision and funding! JTA has a proven lack of any thinking and an extension would just be funding those golden offices and salaries JTA is infamous for! Gee ......nothing like paying double for a lack of talent or expertise!  I am against any gas tax extension or increase............period! Really good point lake and quite possible........that money had to come from come from somewhere unless Johnny got Herb to write a check!

[tufsu1]

Tufsu, do you really think that JTA is capable of, or would do, what they promised according to your plan?  After failing to do almost anything in the past right or as they said it would be done?  This was supposed to be a 6 cent tax for 10 years.  Now JTA wants to morph it into 50 years and add another 5 cent tax for 30 year years with no mention of doing anything more for mass transit than maintain the low level bus system we have now.  

JTA and every other transportation agency around the country then....fact is, transportation projects cost more than they used to (for many valid reasons)...and we haven't raised the Federal gas tax since 1993...which given that it isn't inflation adjusted, it has actually been a tax decrease...and guess what, same with our local 6-cent tax.

btw...JTA is preparing to spend upwards of $500,000 of their money (matched with another $500k of Fed dollars) on the next phase of commuter rail studies...which counts as planning, visioning, and funding CS...I suppose you and stjr are opposed to this as well?

[CS Foltz]

tufsu...........one small problem..........its not JTA's money! It's mine and your tax dollars just like the Federal matching money is in the same category! It is possible to over consult and form more investigating committee's than is necessary, I mean how many transportation studies have been done over the last 10 years? I have been to two and I know there is more than that! Maybe it is over regulation or maybe its just consulting firms padding the table in their favor or expertise............I offer CUTR as an example! Plenty of study has taken place so I have to ask .............surely there are "studies" that already offer this information?

[stjr]

JTA and every other transportation agency around the country then....fact is, transportation projects cost more than they used to (for many valid reasons)...and we haven't raised the Federal gas tax since 1993...which given that it isn't inflation adjusted, it has actually been a tax decrease...and guess what, same with our local 6-cent tax.

btw...JTA is preparing to spend upwards of $500,000 of their money (matched with another $500k of Fed dollars) on the next phase of commuter rail studies...which counts as planning, visioning, and funding CS...I suppose you and stjr are opposed to this as well?

Tufsu, again you are turning a blind eye.  This isn't about raising money, it's about how it is spent.  IF taxpayers saw JTA spend the money appropriately, efficiently, and with results, they would be supportive.  But, JTA grossly overestimates results and grossly underestimates costs, especially on the front end when they are seeking approvals from others.  Then, they play games to obscure their incompetence.  This undermines any support for whatever they put their name to.

I would gladly support paying taxes for projects... but not roads for developers, mishandled fiascoes like the Skyway or the still-to-come poorly planned intermodal center or the salaries of personnel that don't seem to be able to manage projects and resources to best outcomes.

Clearly, I am not against JTA pursuing mass transit.  But, that seems to be all they do... APPEAR to pursue it.  Where are the tangible results?  Buses and the Skyway aren't cutting it.

That study, by the way, wasn't paid with JTA's money, that was paid with taxpayer's money - either city, state, or federal.  JTA has no money of its own unless they derive it from transit revenues.  Since all those revenues are more than offset by the costs of transit, JTA is a taxpayer subsidized agency.

[tufsu1]

That study, by the way, wasn't paid with JTA's money, that was paid with taxpayer's money - either city, state, or federal.  JTA has no money of its own unless they derive it from transit revenues.  Since all those revenues are more than offset by the costs of transit, JTA is a taxpayer subsidized agency.[/b]

I thought you might say that...which is why I didn't say "their own money"...either way, it would seem they now want to spend some money on projects you deem worthy.

as for the tax funding "bad" road projects....I wasn't aware that the 95/JTB interchange was for developers...and I'm pretty sure the Woinderwood Connector was built with the goal of maintaining/enhacing NS Mayport..does the nuclear carrier wring a bell?

Finally, I don't blindly support JTA...in fact, much of what they have done in the past (and continue to do) boggles my mind...which is what makes me using my 4000th post defending them especially meaningful.

[mtraininjax]

JTA needs some independent investigating. Turn over the rocks and let's see how well it spends its money. Do we really need a 100 million overpass at Butler/95, right now? This group lives in fantasyland.

[stjr]

JTA needs some independent investigating. Turn over the rocks and let's see how well it spends its money. Do we really need a 100 million overpass at Butler/95, right now? This group lives in fantasyland.

Or, 9B?  Or, the Outer Beltway?  JTA will consider more gas tax money an endorsement of these projects it supports.

[CS Foltz]

Gee tufsu..........I thought that "Advertsing" was the panacea that JTA has been wanting all this time? It takes advertising to get bus shelters, so it would follow advertising should take care of a nuclear carrier also right? Wonderwood Connector does nothing for my world, so I guess you could say I don't have much belief in what JTA has to say about much if anything with their penchant for cooking numbers and the books!

[tufsu1]

Or, 9B?  Or, the Outer Beltway?  JTA will consider more gas tax money an endorsement of these projects it supports.

nice try...but neither 9B or the Outer Beltway are to be funded by JTA...or the 6-cent local gas tax for that matter!

[tufsu1]

Wonderwood Connector does nothing for my world, so I guess you could say I don't have much belief in what JTA has to say about much if anything with their penchant for cooking numbers and the books!

I HATE this argument....let me try this spin out on you....I have no direct benefit from local schools, so why should I pay school taxes?

[JMac]

If this increase is passed, I'll make a point of driving to St. Johns County to fill up.

[buckethead]

I cannot see a fairer way to tax for transportation infrastructure. The tax is minimally invasive, and in perspective is a non-issue. A tax on gasoline is a tax on transportation.

Tolls? Sucks when you have no cash. Use property taxes? a burden on non drivers.

sales tax? It already is, in a sense. Just applied where it is most fitting.

Automobile tax? What about the hundreds of thousands of used cars? 20 year old guzzling polluters?

Nahhh... A couple cents per gallon increase is the right way to go if further funding is truly needed.

[buckethead]

If this increase is passed, I'll make a point of driving to St. Johns County to fill up.

Your savings will be wiped out by the extra drive, not to mention ST Johns County will become the beneficiary of your business. Do you really drive out of your way to save a couple cents per gallon every time you gas up? I settle for convenience most o the time. I do like to fill up when I am at a cheaper location.

One can drive to GA and save 10 cents per gallon... Worth it?.....nahhh, not even from Yulee.

[Captain Zissou]

Wonderwood Connector does nothing for my world, so I guess you could say I don't have much belief in what JTA has to say about much if anything with their penchant for cooking numbers and the books!

CS- Weren't you the one who was vehemently defending the Mayport citizens and their fight against the cruise terminal?? You said that we have no place to talk about Mayport because we don't live there. Do you only care about and advocate projects that you are a stakeholder in??  Are you actually Clay Yarborough??  If not, sounds like you should run for office in Jax!