General Discussion

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)

53. TX highways were at one time some of the best in the country

Mon Nov 9, 2015, 10:47 AM

Nov 2015

Then the Republicans took over the state. The gas tax used to be earmarked for highways, now it goes into the general revenue and the highway department can beg like all the other state agencies. Then they started building toll roads everywhere and privatized them under Rick Perry. Now some of the lesser state roads are in worse shape than some Third World roads I've driven on. At one point they were willing to scrape off the remaining asphalt and turn one highway into a gravel road because it was cheaper than repaving it after all the heavy fracking trucks ruined it. They've closed most of the rest stops. Now if you have to make a pit stop you have to climb a fence and duck behind a tree in a lot of places out in the boonies.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

59 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The New Jersey Turnpike is terrific and should be a national model. [View all] Renew Deal Nov 2015 OP

Is it toll or free? House of Roberts Nov 2015 #1

here ya go annabanana Nov 2015 #3

Are you kididng? greytdemocrat Nov 2015 #4

Toll Renew Deal Nov 2015 #5

Bwah Recursion Nov 2015 #18

The OP poster must not have lived in another part of the country where roads are free brush Nov 2015 #56

As a frequent NJTPK user, the road was paid for decades ago. Just keeping their fiefdom alive. TheBlackAdder Nov 2015 #2

those with the $$ get to ride, everyone else can walk nt msongs Nov 2015 #6

If things are so dire that those are your options, you might be better off walking. Renew Deal Nov 2015 #7

Better, is 295 from Trenton (7a) to the Delaware Bridge. It is free. Hoppy Nov 2015 #13

Yeah. Toll roads are exclusive RobertEarl Nov 2015 #14

There is actually excellent public transportation in that part of America. you don't even 'need' to Sunlei Nov 2015 #25

True, but Amtrak is not cheap. Renew Deal Nov 2015 #27

CT has had the service stations since the CT turnpike opened in 1958. NutmegYankee Nov 2015 #8

Have they been added to the Merritt recently? Renew Deal Nov 2015 #9

There were two on the merrit as well. I believe they recently overhauled them. NutmegYankee Nov 2015 #10

I agree that it's an easy drive; I did not, however, know closeupready Nov 2015 #11

I didn't know that either. Renew Deal Nov 2015 #12

You get your tow and get a receipt. Turn the receipt into AAA and you get a refund. Hoppy Nov 2015 #15

Aha! Thx. Now I know. closeupready Nov 2015 #33

Sort of like how you can't pump your own gas (nt) Recursion Nov 2015 #20

Not legally at least Renew Deal Nov 2015 #28

I believe Tree-Hugger Nov 2015 #58

The NJ Turnpike is why most people think NJ is ugly. pnwmom Nov 2015 #16

Hopefully we will be able to keep all those nasty poor people in their hoopties off the highways Fumesucker Nov 2015 #17

Ahh yes, all those 1%ers driving working cars. Renew Deal Nov 2015 #30

You do realize I hope that toll roads are *extremely* regressive taxation? Fumesucker Nov 2015 #32

And that the social democracies in Europe we love use them and a VAT heavily? Recursion Nov 2015 #34

The diffference being most of Europe has far superior public transportation Fumesucker Nov 2015 #38

Yes: paid for by regressive taxation Recursion Nov 2015 #39

Pass a VAT here and it will be used to bomb brown people on the other side of the planet Fumesucker Nov 2015 #40

So statutorily limit it Recursion Nov 2015 #41

Do you really see that happening in America? Fumesucker Nov 2015 #42

And it would probably be used for other things... Renew Deal Nov 2015 #50

I don't like toll roads either Renew Deal Nov 2015 #37

From the gospel of Robert Moses, huh? brush Nov 2015 #57

Ah yes, the James Fennimore Cooper Rest Stop Recursion Nov 2015 #19

Best place to end up after 15 minutes inside John Malkovich thelordofhell Nov 2015 #21

God I love that movie (nt) Recursion Nov 2015 #35

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indianna Turnpikes have adequate lanes and convenient rest stops. 1939 Nov 2015 #22

Those are good too, they really knew how to build those for 'auto travel' back 50? years ago. Sunlei Nov 2015 #24

Pennsylvania Turnpike was built in the 1930s NT 1939 Nov 2015 #52

Ohio's rest stops are very good; Indiana's are a shithole! bullwinkle428 Nov 2015 #48

The NJ Turnpike is at least 50 years old & well maintained. Thats why the rest stops are good, they Sunlei Nov 2015 #23

Connecticut seems to have invented all that rogerashton Nov 2015 #26

Not as terrific as the highways around Orlando! GreatGazoo Nov 2015 #29

Does Easy-Pass operate in Florida? Renew Deal Nov 2015 #31

As you pointed out to me upthread most of America doesn't deal with toll roads Fumesucker Nov 2015 #45

Yes, Florida has Easy Pass (Sun Pass) FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #46

So you think every road should have toll booths? B Calm Nov 2015 #36

No. And that was not the point. Renew Deal Nov 2015 #47

Toll roads are terrible period. Shoulders of Giants Nov 2015 #43

When I took the New Jersey Turnpike, Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #54

Ohio Turnpike rest stops (recently built) are the best alcibiades_mystery Nov 2015 #44

Indiana privatized their Turnpike. JPZenger Nov 2015 #49

Only if it's free and not a toll road like NJ, GGJohn Nov 2015 #51

TX highways were at one time some of the best in the country hobbit709 Nov 2015 #53

"New Jersey Turnpike" and "terrific"=Mutually exclusive concepts. Tommy_Carcetti Nov 2015 #55

As I recall HassleCat Nov 2015 #59