>>>>>>>John,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Infrastructure is paid for by taxation, for sure. But why be disproportionate about it? As a libertarian, I'm a fan of use fees as opposed to general taxes that way those who use 'em pay for 'em.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>That would nice, if it would work. It has been recognised for more than 25 years the north of amsterdam needs an extra tunnel to connect the province of North Holland to the south. The government has asked corporations to co-pay for it. Now guess where we are at this moment.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>And if you are asking for a toll system. We are nowhere near that: We are allergic to toll systems. The public does not accept it, it will use one of the other tunnels and problems will grow worse. Part of the deal is that if it works, it does not give you any time advantage as opposed to the other tunnels (short distances), so when that is the case, why pay for the use of the tunnel if another tunnel is free? The costs of the toll system are probably gigantic while the benefits are insignificant.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>IMO, these is one of those cases where the government just has to bite the bullet and build the tunnel. It can raise roadtaxes (which everyone pays) to fund it, but a toll system or asking coorperations to fund is wishful thinking.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If the new tunnel isn't going to save people time and the toll that would be required (would it?) is resisted by the public, then why does it need to be built? If the current tunnels are grossly overcrowded, then it seems like a new tunnel would indeed save everyone time.
>>>>>
>>>>>I agree with you. Also, while everyone is adverse to tolls, they do work to build new roads. If you use the road, you help pay for it. A nuisance for sure, but fair.
>>>>
>>>>Agreed. The only problem I have with toll roads is they are almost invariably built with the promise that tolls will only be temporary, until the road construction is paid for. Except the tolls never go away. I am not familiar with any case in which they have.

Tolls have ben removed in CT from both the Merrtit Parkway and the CTTurnpike (I-95). But the incentive to remove the tools was not "the road has been paid for" it was because of a bad accident at a tool booth where an 18 wheeler rear-ended a bunch of cars. Actually, that could be better termed "the straw that broke..." There were other economic factors such as businesses hating the tools so much they would move to other states and the issue of idling cars at a tool booth using too much fuel and causing too much polution.

And, you guessed it, there is serious talk about bring the tolls back.

Ken
>>>
>>>Somebody posted a case either here or the other place I discuss politics within the last month.
>>>
>>
>>Thank you for that information ;-)
>
>Sorry. Didn't mean to be quite that oblique. Someone posted a case of a road where the costs were recovered and the tool was removed. I just can't remember where I saw it. If I find it, I'll post.
>
>Tamar