Re-introducing toll roads in Jax

[rippley408]

Lem Blogiver argues that liberty-loving people love toll roads. Back in the 1980s when he was mayor of Jacksonville, that commie pinko socialist DemocratTommy Hazouri must have really hated liberty to have gotten rid of the tolled bridges and roads.  You can read Lem's case for liberty and toll roads here in "Phantom Toll Booths":

http://blogiverstravels.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/phantom-toll-booths/

[birddog]

I like the part about the people at ReasonTV being for liberty and toll roads and "really hate that ne’er-do-well named James Madison who wrote against total liberty.  Madison said, 'liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power.'" Tea Party-ers hate it when you quote one of the founding fathers back at them. 

[rippley408]

I like the part about the people at ReasonTV being for liberty and toll roads and "really hate that ne’er-do-well named James Madison who wrote against total liberty.  Madison said, 'liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power.'" Tea Party-ers hate it when you quote one of the founding fathers back at them. 

Yes, Tea Party people think our nation is all about "liberty."  If I remember correctly, the pledge of allegiance doesn't just say, "with liberty for all," but "with liberty and JUSTICE for all."

[civil42806]

Sounds like sock puppets to me.  Not sure how the tea party got involved in this.  When I was living in Jack I voted against removal of the tolls.  New it was going to mean perpetual sale taxes and the tolls would come back

[birddog]

@ civil4280: Rick Scott's administration is pushing toll roads in order to avoid raising taxes. That's the rationale: tolls rather than taxes equate with liberty. And it's part of a national trend by the new batch of Republican governors. By the way, guess what! the sales tax put in in 1986 to replace the tolls is going to remain in place even with the tolls.  Go, sock puppets!

[thelakelander]

The reality is neither the sales tax or the new tolls will fully cover the cost of constructing and maintaining the streets that they are generating the cash for.  At some point, we need to seriously consider slowing the insane rate of new financially unsustainable roadway projects being proposed.  It's not as sexy or profitable for asphalt lovers but taxpayers are better off focusing on improving their access to alternative forms of mobility and redeveloping at higher densities where decent roadway infrastructure already exists.

[If_I_Loved_you]

Lets put a toll on the little bridge off of Grand Ave in Ortega? And since a lot of the very rich live off of McGirts blvd, Ortega Blvd & Yacht Club Rd area we can get them while they drive to work?

[mbwright]

I guess Rick wants the toll roads, so he can get more work for his buddies.  There is no way the toll roads cover all of the build costs, and future maint.  But then again, the current roads do not recover their cost either.