General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,043 posts)

9. The only problem I have with tolls on the Interstate system is if there

Wed Mar 14, 2012, 12:40 PM

Mar 2012

is no practical alternate route.

For example, Pennsylvania wants to make I-80 a toll road. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, which is a combination of I-76 and I-70 is already a toll road. It costs a motorist in a passenger car about $36 to cross Pennsylvania in an east-west direction or the reverse. I-80 is a free alternative across the state. If both become toll highways, it will be next to impossible to cross that state without paying a toll. Secondary highways are too convoluted.

If I have no business in Pennsylvania, but must cross it to get to another state, then I would be forced to pay a toll to do so. That seems to me to be a problem with US citizens freedom of travel. It's not that I don't have the $36, but the principle of the thing.

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I can't believe I have to say this: highway tolls are not a conspiracy to destroy freedom. [View all] TheWraith Mar 2012 OP

I am not a fan of tolls, but I concur with your evaluation. MADem Mar 2012 #1

I concurrently concur with your concur. HappyMe Mar 2012 #3

I'm not a fan either, but nor do I overly dislike them. TheWraith Mar 2012 #8

Here in New York, the yahoos constantly whine hedgehog Mar 2012 #21

I think the fear is that Lawlbringer Mar 2012 #27

I think we need to fight any attempt at privatizing any utility - hedgehog Mar 2012 #29

This is a massive corporate giveaway and profit-making scheme, woo me with science Mar 2012 #52

That will be difficult to do. LiberalFighter Mar 2012 #74

Thing is, there is NO privatization. TheWraith Mar 2012 #32

Tell me something atreides1 Mar 2012 #2

Prior to 9/11, Congress wouldn't have passed it. TheWraith Mar 2012 #5

People need to turn off Coast To Coast AM and remove their tin foil hats. Initech Mar 2012 #4

Oh wait, it's a great place for story ideas! nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #58

They are not a conspiracy to destroy freedom. It's just another regressive tax. denverbill Mar 2012 #6

Frankly ProSense Mar 2012 #13

Some people might be more comfortable thinking of it as a luxury tax. TheWraith Mar 2012 #15

And so does the former. sudopod Mar 2012 #18

I don't think taking the less regressive option necessarily makes it progressive. denverbill Mar 2012 #19

Exactly. It's super regressive. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #38

Tolls can be made less regressive through discounts FarCenter Mar 2012 #62

Our Government unionworks Mar 2012 #7

There was a time when I would have laughed at the idea Mojorabbit Mar 2012 #26

The only problem I have with tolls on the Interstate system is if there MineralMan Mar 2012 #9

I can't speak to Pennsylvania. TheWraith Mar 2012 #17

And to continue on... pipi_k Mar 2012 #73

One of the reasons people that live on the East Coast of this country pay inflated prices Ikonoklast Mar 2012 #47

The only problem I have with planned tolls is the privatization of them. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2012 #53

Tee Hee! unionworks Mar 2012 #10

Why aren't we raising taxes on the rich? Starry Messenger Mar 2012 #11

We already have, and it's happening again at the end of the year. TheWraith Mar 2012 #14

Yes, I'm aware of the make-up of the House, thanks Wraith. Starry Messenger Mar 2012 #37

no we already didn't and we won't again at the end of the year. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #49

Yes, we did. Check your facts. TheWraith Mar 2012 #51

Income tax increase from 35 to 39.6? Not in your link. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #54

It's right there in line item 1: "Broaden Medicare tax base for high-income taxpayers: $210.2 bil" TheWraith Mar 2012 #56

here is what you said Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #60

If you strategically oppose tolls, it is easier tactically to whip up opposition on privacy grounds FarCenter Mar 2012 #12

Heya Dorothy, this is the Tin Man! sudopod Mar 2012 #16

How predictable, that corporate giveaways woo me with science Mar 2012 #20

It really is amazing that your view is so faith based you can't acknowledge facts. TheWraith Mar 2012 #25

Government doesn't need to raise revenue via regressive taxation. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #39

woo. just more woo. dionysus Mar 2012 #31

Corporatist woo at that. girl gone mad Mar 2012 #43

"Cronies get rich, people who have to drive to their jobs get screwed." woo me with science Mar 2012 #45

Or labeled as post hoc ergo prompter hoc. LanternWaste Mar 2012 #42

Between the toll fee and the cost of gas, it's cheaper for me hedgehog Mar 2012 #22

we could spend a tiny bit less on the welfare parasite military and not NEED highway tolls at all nt msongs Mar 2012 #23

Just raise registration fees and get rid of tolls Politicalboi Mar 2012 #24

I live in the Bay Area dana_b Mar 2012 #63

Actually the gas tax is the least regressive and closest to a true user fee tularetom Mar 2012 #28

But already some jurisdictions are worried hedgehog Mar 2012 #30

Toll Roads Do Not Pay For Themselves kemah Mar 2012 #33

I'd much rather see a federal tax rather than toll roads to maintain and improve highway LanternWaste Mar 2012 #34

You had to make a post about it? Rex Mar 2012 #35

What seem to have escaped everyone so far is that the Federal Government used to RC Mar 2012 #36

What seems to be escaping some here is, this is not about private companies. TheWraith Mar 2012 #40

Great obfuscation here by you. woo me with science Mar 2012 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author woo me with science Mar 2012 #50

While I don't like the regressive nature of toll roads, I otherwise agree with you totally NeedleCast Mar 2012 #41

Toll booths are DANGEROUS KamaAina Mar 2012 #46

High-speed EZPass lanes don't slow traffic significantly FarCenter Mar 2012 #55

Not on the Garden State Parkway KamaAina Mar 2012 #57

GSP high-speed lanes are 55 mph, converted booths and on-off booths are 15 mph. FarCenter Mar 2012 #61

If you are too stupid to avoid a tollbooth you shouldn't be on the road in the first place snooper2 Mar 2012 #76

raise the damn gas tax. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #48

Here is the problem at a policy level nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #59

CA St Rte 91, AKA Riverside Freeway has 10 miles of "toll" lanes privately administered cherokeeprogressive Mar 2012 #64

How ironic they continue to call it s freeway. Warren Stupidity Mar 2012 #65

it's all a bunch of 'woo', don't ya know KG Mar 2012 #66

You can't believe you have to say it because you have not really considered your position jpgray Mar 2012 #67

It's a regressive tax that shovels the money of a captive market into private hands. myrna minx Mar 2012 #68

How is a toll any more regressive than a fuel tax or federal highway use tax? Robb Mar 2012 #69

Is a toll system free to build and maintain? jpgray Mar 2012 #70

Inefficiency is not in and of itself regressive. Robb Mar 2012 #71

But if both methods are regressive, and one is less efficient... jpgray Mar 2012 #72

So you don't mind adding one regressive tax on top of an existing regressive tax? Zalatix Mar 2012 #75