Just want to make sure that everyone has seen this:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...es-coming-to-us-36-between-denver-and-boulder
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...es-coming-to-us-36-between-denver-and-boulder
US36 Future Toll Road
- Thread starter mikejrice
- Start date
Good news: this is local and your vote/voice goes further than national issues. Bottom line: don't use the toll lane. On the somewhat-helpful front, the people who do use it will pay the fees and also take cars out of the other lanes, so the other people benefit.
If E-470 and this new toll lane don't make money, then I guess that the company goes bankrupt? ...but the lanes will still exist.
BTW - this is what happens when people want to lower taxes, but still want more stuff. What would happen to a politician if they tried to increase fuel tax, or weight tax to pay for these lanes? They would get run out of town... BUT WE WANT MORE LANES!
If E-470 and this new toll lane don't make money, then I guess that the company goes bankrupt? ...but the lanes will still exist.
BTW - this is what happens when people want to lower taxes, but still want more stuff. What would happen to a politician if they tried to increase fuel tax, or weight tax to pay for these lanes? They would get run out of town... BUT WE WANT MORE LANES!
I am sure some of the rub is people not wanting to pay anything at all, but for most people I think there is more to this.
Why a 50 year contract? That is an insanely long time, and does not allow any real options if this company screws the pooch on this deal.
Why will they not discuss the sharing agreement on the tolls? The tolling company is going to maintain all of 36, even the non-toll portion, and still needs to make a profit. What they will not say is what part of that $5-$14 toll is going to come back to CO.
This all just has the look and feel of something done behind closed doors without any input from those most effected. I would also admit that when bureaucrats do something like this while trying to say "don't worry, we have this under control," then there is an immediate assumption that graft, conspiracy, corruption, and ultimately something to the detriment of the people using the road daily is being done. Bureaucrats have long ago used up all there "trust me" points.
Why a 50 year contract? That is an insanely long time, and does not allow any real options if this company screws the pooch on this deal.
Why will they not discuss the sharing agreement on the tolls? The tolling company is going to maintain all of 36, even the non-toll portion, and still needs to make a profit. What they will not say is what part of that $5-$14 toll is going to come back to CO.
This all just has the look and feel of something done behind closed doors without any input from those most effected. I would also admit that when bureaucrats do something like this while trying to say "don't worry, we have this under control," then there is an immediate assumption that graft, conspiracy, corruption, and ultimately something to the detriment of the people using the road daily is being done. Bureaucrats have long ago used up all there "trust me" points.
ainkiller:
From my understanding the state could not fund the highway being expanded. It was either wait 20yrs or sell it as a toll road, if I remember correctly. Of course that was the info they released for us to hear. Oh, I dont mind paying the extra $$$ to use E470, less idiots.
Two lanes of U.S. 36 in each direction will still be considered "general purpose" lanes and will remain free to all vehicles. Only the third lane under construction now will be tolled.
Two lanes of U.S. 36 in each direction will still be considered "general purpose" lanes and will remain free to all vehicles. Only the third lane under construction now will be tolled.