Actual new news is rare the first day of a legislative session, but I think this qualifies. For those seeking broader coverage of the first day, try here.
In his first speech today to House members, Speaker of the House Thom Tillis said North Carolina needs "new ways to fund improvement to our aging infrastructure."
He moved from that into a discussion of public-private partnerships, and other privatization models to lower the cost of general government. He did not give specifics but, presumably, some of that dovetails with Gov. Bev Perdue's plan to privatize the state's IT functions.
But in a press conference later in the day, Tillis confirmed that, when it comes to new ways to fund infrastructure, he was talking about toll roads.
"I think we have to look at tolling. ..." he said. "And any other things that exist out there."
Time will tell, but it sounds like he's nodding toward the private toll road model (or public-private partnership, or the concession model, if you prefer those terms) used in Texas, and discussed repeatedly in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Basically, private companies pitch road projects to the state and, if chosen, build them and charge drivers a toll.
The point is, someone other than the state puts up the construction capital, but you have to build profit into the toll; not just enough money to build and maintain the road.
2 comments:
I think toll roads are a terrific idea, under one condition: as soon as the road is paid for, the toll booths are removed. I remember in the good old days (late 80s), when I-95 N thru Richmond was being expanded, there were toll booths. It really helped the traffic. The toll booths were removed when the road was complete and the citizens of Virginia didn't have to pay extra taxes.
I don't mind paying for a road if I use it. In turn, I do not want to pay for a road that I don't use.
I don't have a long commute to work, as I live at home, and my husband and I live across the street from his work to save on the commute. It's a choice we made.
Thanks,
Katy
Katy's Conservative Corner
NC Politics from a Conservative Perspective
You need a solid agreement in place to make sure the toll expires, and even then it's difficult.
Georgia 400 was built as a toll road with the promise the chargies would go away in 2011. Now they're seriously considering extending them.
You add another layer - a private company that collects the toll - and I wonder: Does that make it more likely, or less likely that the toll will expire?
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