You know what I realized on my vacation? There is only one reason Austin is getting so many toll roads. We have a Republican legislature. That’s it. End of story. I came upon this realization as I was driving on a 4 lane freeway by Rockport, TX. This freeway dead ends into a 2 lane road, and does not appear to actually go anywhere. This freeway is brand new. Our state doesn’t have any transportation dollars yet it can build brand new highways in the backwaters of Texas? This wasn’t the only road like it I saw. It was just the most obvious example.

We get toll roads because we’re the most liberal city in Texas and the legislature hates us for it and won’t give us transportation dollars as punishment. It’s obvious. The ledge in Texas is so corrupt that if they didn’t hate us they’d have built amazing transportation to get from their home towns to Austin as quickly and easily as possible. We’d see a straight shot super-highway from Amarillo to Austin just so their rep could get here faster. But they hate us, so they’re willing to cut off their own nose to spite the face.

How do we fix it? We take over the legislature. We’re apparently only something like 6 house members away from taking the house and stopping the Austin hate.

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Comments

M1EK (http://mdahmus.monkeysystems.com/blog/)

2007-09-25T16:22:43.000Z

If you care at all about urban vs. suburban, and sprawl vs. non-sprawl, tolls are the best thing to happen to Austin in a very very long time. Nothing says “reconsider living in Circle C” like the prospect of paying a couple bucks each way - and the toll dollars stay in the region rather than getting diverted to rural highways (like gas taxes do). Plus, no sales/property tax ‘donations’ required, as was previously the case with ‘free’ways.

Tim (http://www.loadedguntheory.com/blog/director/listblog/tim.html)

2007-09-25T16:35:45.000Z

Yeah, I’m torn by toll roads. I guess I lean towards socialism in the emotional part of my head a little too much. There seems to be something inherently unfair about roads that only some people can drive on. Especially since most of the affordable houses in Austin are being built in BFE. That said, I definitely would prefer to get people thinking about driving. We really should get capmetro putting bus lines on all the toll roads (of course right now all the toll roads are in cities that have opted out of paying for capmetro services) to ensure that people immediately have that option. There can’t be a delay. My worry is that we’ll just become like Houston. People will get used to paying the toll and it will have no impact on traffic or where people live. The only impact will be that taxpayers get ripped off by helping to build private roads.

M1EK (http://mdahmus.monkeysystems.com/blog/)

2007-09-25T19:27:23.000Z

Well, the “ripoff” actually improves for taxpayers with toll roads - the gas tax as it stands today is a subsidy from urban drivers to suburban drivers (guys as far out as you and farther, basically, i.e. in areas where more major arterials are parts of the state highway system). With tolls, we at least have the possibility of funding transit in the same corridor. But even if we don’t, they’re still better than what we have today - costs that you pay at the time of the trip are going to have more of an effect than costs you pay when you fill up your car, which has much more of an effect on driving than costs you pay yearly no matter how much or even if you drive. “fair” would look something like tolls on ALL major ‘free’ways, plus a buck a gallon gas tax, distributed down to localities similar to how the Federal gas tax is spent at the state level (guaranteed no less than 90% return). The main reason why it’s so ‘affordable’ to live in BFE is precisely subsidies like these. This affordability is artificial, paid for by urbanites both rich AND poor, and not sustainable in the long-run anyways.

kelli (gillysmama.blogspot.com)

2007-09-25T20:50:17.000Z

I am perplexed by this. Are you against toll roads all the time? I’m used to them here in Dallas and it’s not something I really think about. And since we’re planning to move to the Austin area in the near future, I was sort of pleased to see that there was a new one so there would be an alternative to going down I35, which I hate. Do Democrats not build toll roads? I don’t see how this is the fault of the Republicans. I mean, I’m willing to concede that it might be, but it isn’t obvious to me.

Tim (http://www.loadedguntheory.com/blog/director/listblog/tim.html)

2007-09-25T21:32:33.000Z

What you’re planning on moving to Austin? ahhh the toll roads in Austin. It’s an enormous issue. Not the least of which is because they’ve come up with some truly bizarre toll roads ideas (like tolling just an exit ramp). Almost everyone in the city is against them, except that almost everyone in the city loves the one they just built. I waffle on them. I like them as possible agents of change, but I’m pessimistic and think they’re mostly just a way to line someone’s pockets with public funds. I love what M1EK is saying, but I’m too pessimistic to believe that legislated change is possible at this point. I think we’re going to have to have gridlock first. That said, the whole Republican thing is that Austin is constantly getting tromped on by the legislature. Because they’re here and controlled by Republicans they’ve had a habit in the past of passing state laws that are written for the express purpose of striking down Austin city ordinances. Also having Democratic reps and senators in a Republican controlled state is not a great way to get pork, for obvious reasons. So I’m not really complaining about Republicans in this case. Just saying that the best way for Austin to get some nice new road pork would be to flip the majority in the legislature. It will be interesting to see if Dallas’ infrastructure starts to suffer now that it’s controlled by Democrats.

kelli (gillysmama.blogspot.com)

2007-09-25T22:05:27.000Z

yes, that would be the drama making me tired that I haven’t blogged about yet. But I figure none of my daycare families read your blog and it’s safe to tell you. We’ll likely be in north Austin though. Hutto, we think? I am about the most unpolitical person ever. It doesn’t occur to me that something going on is about the legislature. And I didn’t even know Dallas is now controlled by Democrats. I’m probably one of those people you hate for not getting involved. But I’m always interested to learn, and trying to get better.

Tim (http://www.loadedguntheory.com/blog/director/listblog/tim.html)

2007-09-25T22:20:46.000Z

Wow, well let us know if/when things get settled. We’d love to see you guys. If you do move to Hutto you will be really thankful for the new toll roads. I honestly don’t hate people who aren’t involved politically. Hate’s just such a convenient word. :D