Magnifisyncopathological

[Updates below.]

Not too long ago, I blogged the notion of a renewal of interest in federal toll roads. Now, it appears some "authorities" in Austin are thinking the same things.

CTRMA says toll roads needed

Central Texas doesn't have any toll roads yet, but if transportation visionaries have their way that will change. A new plan is out showing the highways drivers might have to pay to use.

[...]

...transportation officials with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority at meeting on Monday said those fees are needed.

"If this is not approved and we fail to access that money that's being made available, it'll set us back once again behind Dallas, Houston and San Antonio," Mike Heiligenstein, with CTRMA, said.

The proposed $2.2 billion plan would add more than 60 miles of toll roads. Loop 360, Loop 1, parts of 183, and 71 would become tolled.

You can see those named roads here. Another map of the region with the proposed toll roads can be seen here (PDF). They compose some of the most-traveled concrete and asphalt in the city and county. If these roads were to become tolled, it would affect a huge number of people. It does not look like the central section of Loop 1/MOPAC will be a toll road; just the top segment.

In less than two years, areas like the "Y" at Oak Hill and U.S. 183 down from I-35 to 71 would get constructed.

"We are talking about giving people the opportunity to drive from Cedar Park from downtown Austin to the airport without stopping. You'll be able to make a loop around Austin without stopping," Heiligenstein said.

Drivers will have to pay 12 cents to 15 cents a mile on a toll road.

Copyright ©2004TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin

According to Texas Tollways:

The price of a toll will depend on the distance traveled and whether a money-saving toll tag is used. The option of tax-supported roads or toll roads will allow motorists to choose the most time-saving route. In 2007, the tolls, without a toll tag, will be approximately:

12.5 cents a mile for SH 130

11.5 cents a mile for SH 45 North

15 cents a mile for Loop 1

Keep in mind that's for typical passenger cars. Trucks with two or more axles should expect an average of "48 cents per mile." It's likely either TxPass or something similar to it would be used to automate toll collection.

If the debt is paid off, the tolls may be reduced to a level that would still cover necessary operation and maintenance costs. With the growing demand for new roads and other transportation improvements, however, the chances are that tolls will not be removed. Instead, they will be used for the toll roads? continued operation and maintenance or to expand the toll system to meet transportation needs. Like the successful toll roads in Dallas and Houston, additional revenues can be used to operate, maintain, and expand the turnpike system.

Construction on State Highway 130 already began last year. It's 49 miles (to be expanded later) would cost approximately $5.90 to traverse using the estimate of $0.12 a mile. Certainly not unreasonable.

From the Austin-American Statesman:

Under the plan, both of the main approaches to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport - 12.6 miles of U.S. 183 (Ed Bluestein Boulevard) and the 3.6 miles of Texas 71 heading east from Interstate 35 - would become toll roads. So would Loop 360 through its entire 13.1-mile run through West Austin from MoPac Boulevard on the south to U.S. 183 on the north.

About 20 percent of the plan is actually old news. It includes both U.S. 183-A and Texas 45 Southeast, toll roads well along the design path that in the past have been presented as part of the first wave of toll roads in Texas.

Like the three turnpikes already under construction - Texas 130, Texas 45 North and an extension of MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) - U.S. 183-A and Texas 45 Southeast would not have continuous, nontolled frontage roads.

So that means at its most expensive estimate, Loop 360 would cost just under $2 to drive from beginning to end. These aren't do-or-die prices at all, ones I'd be willing to pay for a service I deeply appreciate.

Let's be clear that I don't want the government (federal or state) in the business of road construction or planning. I view it as a titanic effort that is best left to private businesses and groups to handle, from beginning to end. I'd prefer that all roads come with direct costs to the consumers who use them and I'd certainly rather not have the government taking private property in right of way proceedings if the landowners don't want to sell...whether they receive "fair market value" or not.

That last bit has always annoyed me. How can you establish a fair value of your property when the other entity you're dealing with both engages in a widely accepted property appraisal service and has the power to enforce it's desires at great expense to you? Imagine the State knocking on your door one day, asking you to sell your home and land for $300,000. You paid a combined $200,000 for the property and house, but over the years you have turned it into exactly what you wanted your permanent home to be. You love the location, the neighbors, the environment, and have no desire to leave. Here's what happens next:

If the property owner disagrees with the appraisal value, a written counteroffer may be submitted. It should include a specific dollar amount with information supporting the counteroffer. Only one counteroffer may be submitted. The counteroffer will be reviewed by TxDOT and the property owner will be notified of the decision.

[...]

If an agreed purchase price cannot be reached, condemnation proceedings are initiated.

In condemnation hearings, the court will appoint three disinterested landowners to serve as special commissioners and a hearing will be held to determine the value of the property being acquired. During the hearing, the property owner and the state will present documentation supporting the value of the property. The commissioners will determine the value of the property and file their decision with the court.

As soon as the state deposits the amount of the award with the court, it takes possession of the property and it is transferred to the state.

If either party is dissatisfied with the amount, objections must be filed within the time limits prescribed by law and the case is tried in the same manner as other civil cases. The basic issue decided in eminent domain cases is just compensation for the property being acquired.

Meaning, as long as some other person or collective decides the price being offered for your property is "just compensation," you get screwed and the state gets it's new property. Damn you, Fifth Amendment! Some "right" that is.

Anyway, a transportation project that involves less and less government money and more voluntary consumer money is better than the older Texas way. Just keep taking those steps in the right direction...

UPDATE(7/13/2004 9:50am)
News8Austin: Area leaders vote yes on toll roads

Area leaders voted 16-7 in favor of a $2 billion toll road plan for Central Texas. The vote by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization took place at the Thompson Conference Center on The University of Texas campus Monday night.

The toll plan affects most major roadways in Central Texas except for I-35. The plan includes tolls on South MoPac near William Cannon, U.S. 290 West in Oak Hill and State Highway 45 northeast of Central Texas.

It now goes to the Texas Department of Transportation and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for planning and construction.

Copyright ©2004TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin

CAMPO. TxDOT. CTRMA. What a waste of time.

UPDATE(8/13/2004 9:01am)
Just discovered the Austin Toll Party website. For the most part, I agree with them. It's double taxation to impose both normal taxing practices on us to pay for roadways (and for roads already paved and paid) and then require us to pay a toll on top of what we already pay in property and sales taxes.

However, I detect a certain hint of a free rider attitude among the commentary as well as pandering to majority opinion. Ideally, road construction and maintenance should be the purview of private entities operating to provide a service at a profit...just like any other business. Our transportation system shouldn't be left at the whim of democracy and government corruption. It should be in the hands of the people who would know what's most needed and where: private capitalist enterprise.

The problem isn't the toll. The problem is who administers it. Once people have to consider the costs of using a service, they will moderate their usage of it. Charging higher prices during peak times will keep the roads less congested by giving travellers the incentive to double up, take alternate routes, or live closer to their primary destinations. But once you have the state get involved, you lose a good portion of what makes the above work so well. Since the state doesn't operate in the interest of profit and has the ability to ruin companies that do, the core reason for running a business gets corrupted. Regulatory compliance and a clean public persona become as - if not more - important than operating a legitimate business.

UPDATE 9/8/2004 9:01am
Austin Traffic Sucks? Really???

UPDATE 2/22/2005 12:37pm
News8Austin: Mayor, city council recall petition dropped

The effort to recall Austin Mayor Will Wynn and other city leaders will change its focus.

A group called Austin Toll Party led a petition drive for the past few months trying to force a recall election for Wynn and some Austin City Council members.

UPDATED 7/10/2006 11:15am
Ben Wear's Wily Hunt for Truth and the TxTag