Bechtel Corporation gets contract for thousands of federal toll booths

[Ichingcarpenter]

Securing a 100 billion dollar deal Bechtel corporation will build all the new toll booths on US interstate highways.


Meanwhile raising the gas tax just 2 cents was turned down as too expensive, for the consumer be it for road improvements or carbon tax and will hold up traffic too much for deceleration, fuel consumption, braking and accelerations unlike the toll booths which are considered more energy and environmental friendly


I had to add that this is future tense and satire because some don't get satire but also a real possibility.

Don't forget the other contracts for supporting these toll booths like sanitation and water for the workers. Collection of tolls and other goodies that must be sub contracted......

[Recursion]

1. How is a gas tax better than Interstate tolls?

Seriously. I don't get the opposition to tolls.

[Zorra]

4. Seriously, you don't get the opposition to tolls? What a surprise.

[Recursion]

6. No answer?

Why is a gas tax better than tolls? I'd be happy to support either.

[Zorra]

10. See posts #5 and #8.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024893832#post5

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024893832#post8

interstate highways were never intended to be toll roads.

[seveneyes]

31. Bingo

Not only were Interstates built as limited access highways and never meant to be tollways, the cost to build and staff toll infrastructure would take decades to pay for. If our government would just use the taxes intended for Interstate highway upkeep as intended, this insane idea never would have been introduced.

The are plenty of other means to continue their maintenance without this regressive insanity.

[ellenfl]

58. the florida turnpike was supposed to drop the toll once it was paid for years ago.

of course, that never happens. it is still a toll road. and no, i will NOT call it the ronald reagan turnpike.

[Zorra]

2. Privatization. Must. Die. nt

[Recursion]

3. I don't think, in the history of the world, there have been publicly-collected tolls

"Privatization" implies that it was public before. Tolls have literally always been contracted out.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. explain the energy efficiency of a toll booth

Plus the environmental impact of toll booths.

[Recursion]

7. The environmental downside is idling.

Obviously that's inefficient. Would a gas tax be better? Sure. Can you pass one?

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. States can and do

States can create their own toll roads if they wish and raise state gasoline taxes as needed but not on federal interstates.




Toll booths on federal interstates are just a boondoggle for corporations, which cause traffic congestion, and increased fuel inefficiencies.

[snooper2]

33. You know the year is 2014, they have these cool things now called "toll tags"

You like, stick them in your window and they have these fancy reader things hanging over the highways and off ramps and it reads your plate to and stuff.

Then they charge your account and when your account gets to like $10 they automatically deduct $30 from your checking account so you have a buffer again.


No humans required to sit in little booths anymore. Technology ROCKS!

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. Open-road tolling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_road_tolling

[Ichingcarpenter]

41. You mean people traveling through the State?

to go cross country?



Yeah right.

[Ichingcarpenter]

43. So someone from California gets these stickers where?

traveling through Kansas?

[snooper2]

44. That is why NTTA (North Texas Toll Authority) has a FAQ!

What about vehicles with out-of-state license plates?

The NTTA currently partners with a third party and other states to acquire out-of-state vehicle information. The NTTA aggressively pursues all tolls owed, whether the vehicle is registered in Texas or another state.



https://help.ntta.org/QA/FAQs/

[tammywammy]

62. I hate the gates at DFW Airport

Even with a TollTag you still have to stop and wait for the arm to raise. Minor issue really, but it's still annoying.

At least a few years ago the NTTA and Houston hooked up and the TollTag is also good on the toll roads down there.


edited to add: Also, don't think if you're in a rental car or maybe a loaner car from a dealership that you won't end up paying up. I know Avis has a tolltag thing (at least in the Orlando area), but you end up paying almost twice as much for tolls using it. In Texas they'll send the bill to Avis and on to you. When I worked at a car dealership, I frequently contacted customers that drove the tollroads in our vehicles for payment.

[Ichingcarpenter]

66. 'partners with a third party '

get it?......... I guess not.

[snooper2]

68. yes, a third party that will take your license plate info, find out where you live, send you a bill

Then call you every day at 9:12AM and 6:42PM to collect the $2.45 that you owe

[Ichingcarpenter]

70. Sorry but you love libertarian toll roads.

because that's what they are.

[snooper2]

72. and there it is! slime by association!

Rus-Si-A!


Actually our toll roads around DFW are great, always in good shape, smooth,

now jump on 35 South and watch out!

[Ichingcarpenter]

74. Now think about it...... Toll roads are not progressive but the essence

of economic libertarianism.

[Lars39]

48. Unless they are nationalized toll booths, I'd have to pony up approx $200 to just get the tags

from 4 separate states when going from TN to Chicago.

[Ichingcarpenter]

49. What a great idea... vs a tag on gasoline pump raising the fuel tax

It just gets better and better.

[Lars39]

51. Didn't mean to give this idea one iota of support.

Just telling what my personal experience would be in the attempt.

[Ichingcarpenter]

52. Even the so called EZ toll have to be built and maintained.

Which doesn't help the roads. I was being facetious with you on your excellent point.

[Lars39]

57. Dare I get vulgar and add "secured", too?

And a to your defense, too, Ichingcarpenter!

Built, maintained and secured.That's not going to be cheap. And yet the idea that all this would be privatized is derided by some, even going so far as to call people that object to this horrible scheme, "entrenched libertarians." TN is so damned cheap and Teabagged, privatized toll booths will be automatic. And of course, the legislatures and governor will be steering the contract towards the company in which they own stock.

And the rich and wealthy companies are so put upon that they can't pay taxes....

[MohRokTah]

65. Congress has to raise the fuel tax.

All a president can do is issue an executive order opening up all interstate highways to state level tolling.

[Ichingcarpenter]

69. State gas taxes help paid for the expansions and maintenance of California interstates

You really gotta try harder.

[MohRokTah]

71. It's up to state legislatures to make the choices now.

Federal funds are at a standstill and are actually decreasing when you account for inflation.

[Ichingcarpenter]

75. So ........ you got nothing.

[MohRokTah]

76. So...the president just gave states more choices.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

If you don't like toll roads, it's now incumbent upon you to make sure your local representatives in your state legislature are aware of your opposition.

[Ichingcarpenter]

78. Economic liberalism. in the extreme

Choice. of privatization of public roads....... thank you.

[MohRokTah]

80. Oddly enough, I thought I would despise toll roads before moving where I live.

And now, I have no problems with them after fifteen years of living with them.

[JoeyT]

84. In Texas you don't need the tags.

You just drive through and someone will mail you a bill to collect the $2.00ish you owe. And the $15 in fees you owe for using the toll road without a tag. A road you can't pay cash on because they don't accept it. I notice they left that part out.

[Lars39]

85. You mean that particular stretch of road.

I wonder how many segments that route would be divided into.

[RandoLoodie]

39. open road tolling is very efficient

just need an IPass/EZPass/WhateverPass variant

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

54. Efficient for whom?

Gas tax - no added steps for end-users. You simply fill up exactly as always, and pay a bit more.

'EzPass' or whatever - you have to get the tags/pass/whatever. You presumably have to pay an extra bill that you didn't have to pay before.

Plus, of course, all of those toll monitors have to be built and maintained.

If the argument is 'efficiency' gas taxes win hands down over tolling.

[RandoLoodie]

59. the answer was in response to someone asking about

the efficiency of tollbooths.

You can either stop and start again at a traditional tollbooth or you can fly through an open road tolling setup.

All the other crap you brought up doesn't have anything to do with what I was responding to.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

60. the other crap?

yes, open road tolling is more efficient than traditional tollbooths.

I still think the efficiency of a gas tax as opposed to either type of tollbooth is relevant to the conversation, even if you don't feel it was relevant to your own comment.

[RandoLoodie]

61. ok

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Not true...

while they have been collected by "authorities" like the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, Garden State Turnpike Authority and such, these are government agencies. Occasionally, yes, some places have contracted out toll collection, but it's still in the name of the government.

In Medieval times, yes, local lords owned roads and put tolls on them and may have collected for the Crown, but that was a long time ago.

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Those roads are state not federally built

and maintained

[TreasonousBastard]

13. Right. I was just pointing out that there are public toll collections...

And there are roads like the Jersey Turnpike that aren't interstates, but are still a functioning part of the system.

[Recursion]

14. RIght, but arrangements like TBT are what people are calling "Privatization" (nt)

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Setting up a public authority is now "privatization"?

There's almost no point in discussing these things any more.

[Recursion]

16. Yes; read the threads

I'm not kidding.

[TreasonousBastard]

17. I give up.

[KittyWampus]

38. Either DU has lost its collective mind or there are Libertarians well ensconced.

[Ichingcarpenter]

55. Toll roads are Libertarian ...... not progressive nor democratic.

Its economic tyranny. on something that was once free.......that everyone contributed to.

[TheFarseer]

67. its only a very small step

To sell off these toll booths to the highest bidding company. And only a small step to Jack up the price four fold while competing highways rot away to leave you no choice. Come on man. Think two dimensionally.

[Jesus Malverde]

34. Privatization brought us Snowden...

Maybe there is good and bad.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. The arguments, as we went through them every...

election year in New Jersey, were simply that to raise the gas tax affected everyone and so by definition sucked. Besides, if the money were to go to highways, prove that average Joiseyans actually used the highways.

To raise the tolls hit truckers the worst and commuters second, although we would get a lot of the money from people just passing through the state. But, every time tolls went up, any free alternatives were clogged with huge traffic jams. People will wait an extra hour to beat a $2 toll hike.

Automatic toll collection with things like EZPass helped a lot with the tollbooth traffic jams, so if you gotta pay a toll, it was the way to go.

Note that any and every revenue collection scheme will have a ready and well-funded group to explain why it will cause the fall of the Republic.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

56. That does seem to be the argument.

Are the highways a 'public good' that benefits all of society, and thus should be paid for by everyone, or should they be paid for by 'users'?

Oddly, people who argue the public good end are being called 'libertarians' on DU because they don't believe in user pay tolls.

[JoeyT]

83. Eh, that's not really odd.

They just scream "Libertarian!" at anyone that disagrees with them. Even hating corporations is libertarianism now because WHY DO YOU HATE OBAMA? YOU MUST BE RACIST!.

Don't get me wrong. If I was constantly defending indefensible stuff, I'd probably throw whatever insults I thought would stick too.

[JDPriestly]

18. Has this been passed into law?

I oppose toll booths. Eisenhower must be turning over in his grave.

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. Toll Booth collection to be subcontracted to

Booz Allen Hamilton creating hundreds on new low paying jobs......saving the government money.

[Jesus Malverde]

20. Wow they are just giving it away now...nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

21. Call me Carnac the Magnificent

[blkmusclmachine]

22. End of free roads you already paid for with your tax dollars. Now the Corp's are gonna double-dip

into your pocket. And it won't stop with this newest injustice. DC is the TBTF Pimp Daddy, and we're all their whores. More Republican legislating out of a right-of-Center "Democratic" Administration. YUCK

[KittyWampus]

36. Those road aren't free. They need constant repair.

[Ichingcarpenter]

50. How about the 16 largest corporations that pay no taxes?

that would be a novel idea.

[OKNancy]

23. I thought at first this was a news article, but you are just speculating

to get a discussion going.
Like anything around here, since it hasn't happened and is just in the idea stage, I'm not going to wring my hands about it yet.

[Enthusiast]

24. This is so wrong.

[Ichingcarpenter]

25. Water and Sanitation requirements subcontracted to Haliburton

Water and sanitation to the toll booths will be needed for the toll booth operators. Pipelines and sewage pipes will be needed.

More jobs......... for Haliburton.

[snooper2]

37. Lowes gets paid $230 for wire mess to keep birds off toll tag cameras

[Ichingcarpenter]

63. Oh and a toll both on the right. and left of the picture.

What did that thing cost?

[snot]

26. How did this happen so quickly?

[Ichingcarpenter]

27. I'm just giving you a probable future

on what will come down with this stupid idea.




http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/white-house-opens-door-to-tolls-on-interstate-highways-removing-long-standing-prohibition/2014/04/29/5d2b9f30-cfac-11e3-b812-0c92213941f4_story.html

White House opens door to tolls on interstate highways, removing long-standing prohibition

By Ashley Halsey III, Published: April 29

With pressure mounting to avert a transportation funding crisis this summer, the Obama administration Tuesday opened the door for states to collect tolls on interstate highways to raise revenue for roadway repairs.

The proposal, contained in a four-year, $302 billion White House transportation bill, would reverse a long-standing federal prohibition on most interstate tolling.

[FSogol]

28. Link? Or is this just some BS you made up?

[Ichingcarpenter]

29. I added this as future talk... and satire

plus a reality that goes along with toll booths.

[FSogol]

30. Fair enough. I'll treat what you post as satire.

[JEB]

32. The vitriol that is being directed your way

reveals much about those posters.

[KoKo]

42. No one is expressing vitriol to the OP for Suggesting what could happen...but at

what could and probably will happen if we toll all our nation's major highways. Directed at the Privatization and which Corporate Entity/Private Contractor will get the money.

[JEB]

45. Feeding on the carcass of the empire.

It's as close to an economy as we can come. And some, even on DU, will fiercely defend the practice of privatizing the profits while letting the public bear the risks.

[KittyWampus]

35. Whether or not any tolls are built will be up to each state as will contracts building them

[Lars39]

47. I'm guessing you live in a blue area or state and have a pretty good salary,

or you wouldn't be so gung-ho over this. Those of us in red state hell are just out of luck I guess.

[Lars39]

46. You're thinking big....I thought it'd be Walmart...Wal-Tolls!

[oldandhappy]

53. Hilarious!!

So -- it is a state decision to do the tolls? But the feds give the contract for the booths? And Bechtel gets the money?

Amazing. We spend a fortune to implement tolls. A gas tax would take a click on the computer. Yes? No? Seems weird.

[MohRokTah]

64. Toll booths are ancient technology. The techology has advanced.

It's called open road tolling.

[Ichingcarpenter]

73. Read the thread ..... on that bullshit.

toll roads are a libertarian wet dream......

[liberal N proud]

77. In the last 3 years Indiana replaced all their toll booths

You still have to go through a toll booth for the Easy Pass system. Pennsylvania and Illinois both have open road.

[Ichingcarpenter]

79. Not on interstate highways.

they are still toll roads.

[liberal N proud]

81. Interstate 80 and Interstate 90 are have tolls

As does Interstate 95, Interstate 77. to name a few.

[Ichingcarpenter]

82. So like parking meters in Chicago.They are owned by

It is owned by the Indiana Finance Authority and operated by the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company, a joint-venture between Spanish Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte and Australian Macquarie Atlas Roads.

We should all live in your great state.......




Now look up those companies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Toll_Road

Economic libertarianism



Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in organizing the economy on individualist lines, meaning that the greatest possible number of economic decisions are made by individuals and not by collective institutions or organizations

[KoKo]

86. And after Privatizing Chicago's Parking Meters..Went after Airports to Privatize...

but they got shot back on. I suspect they ain't dead yet...but, this showed that the Deal Soured:

====


Chicago's Privatized Parking Meters Sour Airport Lease Deal

by
September 30, 2013 3:29 AM ET


Close to 19 million passengers come through Chicago's Midway Airport each year, and many will spend a lot of cash here — on food, drinks, books, gum, parking and rental cars — not to mention the landing fees and gate fees paid by airlines.

There are a lot of opportunities to make money in a bustling hub airport like this, and the city was hoping to cash in.

Last winter, when the city opened the bidding process in what would have been the first commercial airport to go private, six investment firms expressed interest. But by this summer, the number dwindled to just two, and now, one of the final two has dropped out.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's response? "I said no to the privatization on Midway. It was not right for the city," Emanuel said earlier this month.

Emanuel says without competitive bids, which he hoped could net the city up to $2 billion up front, he could not guarantee a good return on Midway's lease.

But what got in the way actually had nothing to do with the airport. It was Chicago's parking meters.

What 'Hampered The Deal'

Former Mayor Richard Daley privatized the city's parking meters for $1 billion five years ago and rammed the sweetheart deal through a compliant city council without releasing many details to the public. Parking meter rates skyrocketed to the highest in the country. The city spent the $1 billion up front to balance its budget. And for the 75-year term of the lease, Chicago taxpayers still must reimburse the private operator millions of dollars a year for parking spaces the city has to take out of commission. (A 2009 report from the city's inspector general called it a ".&quot

With Chicago voters leery of new privatization deals, Emanuel tried to impose conditions on the Midway deal. He shortened the lease term to no more than 40 years, capped food and parking prices and mandated revenue sharing on top of the big payment the private operator would make up front. The mayor also created an independent oversight panel to review the terms of any Midway lease, chaired by Peter Skosey with the non-profit Metropolitan Planning Council.

"Some of these constraints that we put on it to protect the public interest may have hampered the deal a little bit, and I think the numbers just didn't come out as favorably," Skosey says.

In other words, the private investors didn't see enough profit to make it worth their risk.

http://www.npr.org/2013/09/30/225748243/chicago-s-privatized-parking-meters-sours-airport-lease-deal