Comments on: Maybe It’s Time For More Toll Roads

By: Henry

Henry — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:25:45 +0000

“What was said before” was a “trip” into town, not a “drive”. Folks need to be given choices. Iron-fisted tactics which demand people do things one way or not at all will foster the temptation for many to say “to hell with a trip to town”. Even those who drive in to see plays or sporting events do, at least, spend money in the city; that has to be a good thing.

Also, given that interstates are funded by the Feds by way of the state, it is not altogether clear how the evil “suburbanites” are getting off scot “free” in their use of “infrastructure”. The City of Atlanta is an economic engine, to be sure, but it also comprises only one-tenth of Metro Atlanta’s population. I’ll say once more - it is at its own peril that it walls itself off with confiscatory taxes and tolls. I hope that such doesn’t happen.

By: James

James — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:20:13 +0000

This is great solution on many different levels. There is a huge imbalance on regional transportation dollars with Fulton/Dekalb paying all the dough and surrounding counties reaping all the benefits. Highway tolls in the specified areas would balance the transportation costs so that it is shared more fairly. It would encourage people to use mass transportation, foster growth in close-in neighborhoods, and provide cleaner air. Contrary to what was said before, we *want* people to think that “it’s not worth it to drive into town”. Let’s face it - most suburbanites just drive ITP to go to work or to a sporting event downtown. In other words they drive into town because the *have to*. Why not make them pay for the infrastructure that they now use for free? Right now we are limiting choices by making those who use efficient transportation like mass transit pay more than those who contribute to our traffic and air pollution headaches.

By: Henry

Henry — Fri, 01 Oct 2004 03:49:34 +0000

While I agree there should be other transportation alternatives, one of the most idiotic ideas would be for the city/state of Atlanta to make itself a walled city where anyone entering in an automobile would have to pay all sorts of confiscatory tolls. Want to create the notion in people’s minds that a trip to Atlanta is not worth the trouble? Charge confiscatory tolls, taxes. etc. for everything under the sun - that will do it! The economic interplay between Atlanta/Georgia is far more symbiotic than most folks would care to admit. Rather than “forcing” people to do this or that through tolls, give people “choices” that make them want to take a commuter train (which we don’t have yet) take MARTA, bike to work or work from home. The results are far better when folks are positively, not negatively motivated. I have been impressed with a good deal of what has been happening lately in Atlanta - and I make these observations from a roughly 30 year perspective. People of accomplishment are moving back into Atlanta and the city is gaining population for the first time in decades. New residences of all types are being built and old structures are being revitalized for lofts everywhere you look. Great segments of the city are becoming destinations where people WANT to go. If that’s gentrification, so be it - it’s a damned sight better than urban blight any day of the week. Also, the horseless carriage is not a passing fad - it’s going to be with us in one form or another for a while. That said, let’s provide desirable transportation alternatives, rather than use force and coercion through more taxes and tolls.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 26 Sep 2004 02:48:58 +0000

Amen! Not that I’m really one to talk about commuting, but at least I drive a low emission vehicle and work from home occasionally.

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 25 Sep 2004 06:17:22 +0000

Ok, I’m down with Inbound tolls only. Gives me a reason to never leave the City!

By: Some Other Mike.

Some Other Mike. — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 04:24:05 +0000

I have to say, I’d much rather use vehicle taxing than toll booths. 5-10 cents/pound(curb)/year for every car in the metro should do.

And if we really wanted to present a benefit for HOV, we could hang a camera out there and issue vehicle tax credits to vehicles caught in the act of proper use of an HOV.