2008 Woodie Awards
Toll roads can relieve congestion, reduce drive-times, professors say
By Regis L. Roberts
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: News
Originally published: 11/1/07 at 1:52 PM CSTLast update: 11/5/07 at 8:51 AM CST
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Coin trays in Texas cars may actually get to see the faces of dead presidents.
The much-discussed and controversial Trans-Texas Corridor, or TTC, has breathed life into the debate of toll roads in Texas.
Plans for the Trans-Texas Corridor include TTC-Instate 35, which starts in Laredo and extends north to Gainesville, running along the eastern part of Texas; and Interstate 69/TCC, which has three openings in Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville and follows the coast to Texarkana.
Much of the TTC will be privately operated toll roads, run by the Spanish firm Cintra.
The TTC will not run through San Antonio, and will just skim the eastern edge of Bexar County.
Political science Professor Christy Woodward-Kaupert said of more significance to San Antonio is the proposed toll road for U.S. Highway 281.
A 17-cent per mile toll for two- and three-axle vehicles was proposed by the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority for the stretch of U.S. Highway 281 between Loop 1604 and Marshall Road that will open in 2012.
Kaupert said toll roads have come about as a solution to poor planning.
The state has been under perpetual construction and the population continues to grow faster than what can be sustained with new construction projects, she said.
Economics Professor Cyril Morong said whenever a free service is provided, such as free roads, supply will not be able to keep up with demand.
This translates to congestion, he said, and having people pay to use certain roads that become congested frequently will relieve congestion.
"I don't think it's a result of poor planning, because you always have rush hours," he said.
People are going to be paying for convenience with toll roads, Kaupert said.
Morong said if a person is driving at a time when congestion is not a factor, the driver does not need to take advantage of the toll service.
Many people are against toll roads, Kaupert said, because they think they are paying for roads they already paid for with taxes.
In 1946, according to the Handbook of Texas, a "good-roads constitutional amendment" was passed that appropriated funds for highways from revenue received from gasoline taxes and vehicle registration along with money from the federal government.
What people do not realize, Morong said, is that people are paying for congestion with their time.
Parents may miss a school recital or Little League game because they were sitting in traffic, he said.
The mileage of a driver's car, he said, is also affected because idling lowers efficiency.
The much-discussed and controversial Trans-Texas Corridor, or TTC, has breathed life into the debate of toll roads in Texas.
Plans for the Trans-Texas Corridor include TTC-Instate 35, which starts in Laredo and extends north to Gainesville, running along the eastern part of Texas; and Interstate 69/TCC, which has three openings in Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville and follows the coast to Texarkana.
Much of the TTC will be privately operated toll roads, run by the Spanish firm Cintra.
The TTC will not run through San Antonio, and will just skim the eastern edge of Bexar County.
Political science Professor Christy Woodward-Kaupert said of more significance to San Antonio is the proposed toll road for U.S. Highway 281.
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A 17-cent per mile toll for two- and three-axle vehicles was proposed by the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority for the stretch of U.S. Highway 281 between Loop 1604 and Marshall Road that will open in 2012.
Kaupert said toll roads have come about as a solution to poor planning.
The state has been under perpetual construction and the population continues to grow faster than what can be sustained with new construction projects, she said.
Economics Professor Cyril Morong said whenever a free service is provided, such as free roads, supply will not be able to keep up with demand.
This translates to congestion, he said, and having people pay to use certain roads that become congested frequently will relieve congestion.
"I don't think it's a result of poor planning, because you always have rush hours," he said.
People are going to be paying for convenience with toll roads, Kaupert said.
Morong said if a person is driving at a time when congestion is not a factor, the driver does not need to take advantage of the toll service.
Many people are against toll roads, Kaupert said, because they think they are paying for roads they already paid for with taxes.
In 1946, according to the Handbook of Texas, a "good-roads constitutional amendment" was passed that appropriated funds for highways from revenue received from gasoline taxes and vehicle registration along with money from the federal government.
What people do not realize, Morong said, is that people are paying for congestion with their time.
Parents may miss a school recital or Little League game because they were sitting in traffic, he said.
The mileage of a driver's car, he said, is also affected because idling lowers efficiency.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Christy Woodward Kaupert
posted 11/02/07 @ 7:44 AM CST
Regis, let me clarify something here....
The Secretary of State's Historical Voting Records that you cite need a bit more explanation. There ARE two figures quoted there which makes your comment a bit confusing. (Continued…)
Wesley
posted 11/08/07 @ 8:16 PM CST
Why not just raise fuel taxes to pay the cost of new roads?
The toll roads I have seen are time consuming at the pay gate.
Margaret McGrane
posted 11/12/07 @ 11:50 AM CST
In Bexar county only 6.2% of registered voters turned out to the constitutional amendment election on the 6th. It was not much better for the entire state, like 8. (Continued…)
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