Governor looking at toll roads to meet state's highway needs (Mngy Advertiser)

[eppur_se_muova]

A big chunk of Alabama's high­way construction money -- $150 mil­lion in federal funding -- could go away, and Gov. Robert Bentley and some legislators are looking for alter­native sources of funding to replace the missing funds. One solution be­ing considered is adding toll roads in certain parts of the state.

Bentley has charged the state highway department with looking at an alternative to meet the needs here.

"I think selected toll roads is something I want to look at," the gov­ernor said.

Bentley, a Republican, said toll roads would add to the state's high­way infrastructure and create jobs.

He said the state not only needs money to build roads and bridges, but also there is a need for funding for fu­ture maintenance.

Several key lawmakers said they are not opposed to toll roads and that the state should explore all of its op­tions. But these legislators said they do not believe toll roads will work in much of the state because there is not enough traffic to support them.
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more: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110403/NEWS02/104030317/Governor-looking-toll-roads-meet-state-s-highway-needs-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage




$150 million in federal funds may "go away"? What's the story on that?

[lazarus]

1. someone needs to ask these people

what the difference is between a toll and a tax.

:shrug:

[liberalmike27]

2. Ask Alabamians

Why they keep voting Republican, when the have regularly cut federal income taxes on the wealthy, cut education funding, and then raised sales, gas, toll roads, utility, property, alcohol, and cigarette taxes, which disproportionately hurt the poor? We're also 49th in education, which might provide an answer to my question, as republican voting percentages and position on the education lists are inversely proportional.

When the rich have more than they have had since the wealth disparity created the Great Depression in 1929, why is it Ryan wants to cut taxes on the rich to 25 percent.

Sadly, we're estupido.

[Crowman1979]

3. They vote Rethuglican because their candidates GAWDLY!

They don't care if they enact laws that allow companies to pay shity wages with no benefits, as long as they believe in Jayzus and don't want to kill the babies.

[nkt35500]

5. agreed

[bamacrat]

4. Nooooooooooooooooooooooo.

I am an Alabama native who moved to Dallas a couple of years ago and practically all convenient roads are toll roads, it sucks..... The wife and I are thinking about a move back in a few years, want to get away from tolls. It is effective in raising money though and Alabama could use it.

[Crowman1979]

6. How about *GASP* raising the property taxes on higher income residents.

"THAT'S SOCIALISM! GO BACK TO RUSSIA YOU NEW YORKER HIPPY FAGGOT!" - Typical Teabagger response.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. I suspect it about privatization of more roads in Ala.

Down in So. Ala., Orange Beach area, the city council was talked into selling a short cut highway to the beach, to a private firm that made it a toll road.
They thought they were being clever, and would make a killing.
the City Council got greedy at the terms of the sale, which included a portion of the toll receipts.

Till the economy blew up a couple years later, people used the longer public road instead, tolls dropped off dramatically, the city budget, based in part on expected toll fee revenue, tanked, etc etc.

If Bentley is talking toll roads, he is talking privatization, bet my hat on it.