What do you guys think of pay to use lanes on major freeways??

[SSSnail]

So, you're angry with me for my willingness to pay to use toll roads... Got it.

No, if they're originally set up to be toll roads, you can pay to go wherever you want. But to take away from public infrastructure to create toll roads out of them, that's where you should be having a second thought about it.

It's the principal of it all, buddy. All about me, right?

 

[gorb]

They are tearing up I35W in Fort Worth now. Reconstructing the existing lanes (not adding any free lanes) and adding two toll lanes in each direction. I'll pay to use the toll lanes when I see the need but I really wish they would go ahead and build some additional free lanes considering they're doing all this damned work already.

 

[OutHouse]

I refuse to pay a monthly fee for the transponder. If I could just pay a deposit for the transponder and load it with some money .

I wouldnt either. The tolls in denver used to have those but now have a little sticker you put on your windshield and pay as you use tolls on your credit card. what pisses me off is motorcycles are not exempt and pay the same amount as a car. the Tolls on E470 are not cheap. from north denver to south denver it is $10.50 in tolls. that adds up if used for commuting.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No, if they're originally set up to be toll roads, you can pay to go wherever you want. But to take away from public infrastructure to create toll roads out of them, that's where you should be having a second thought about it.

It's the principal of it all, buddy. All about me, right?

They didn't take away from existing lanes to do this. They built these lanes specifically to add HOV/Fastrak lanes to an already overcrowded freeway.

Regardless, if you're asking me to boycott it simply on principle that ain't gonna happen either. :sneaky)

 

[poofyhairguy]

I pay every day for toll roads. Some of the best money I spend. Screw sharing the road.

 

[SSSnail]

They didn't take away from existing lanes to do this. They built these lanes specifically to add HOV/Fastrak lanes to an already overcrowded freeway.

Regardless, if you're asking me to boycott it simply on principle that ain't gonna happen either. :sneaky)

Yeah, originally they were HOV lanes, they added another lane and made both toll/fastrak. Same thing they did with the I-10.

While I can't do anything to change it, at least I don't participate in it.

 

[pete6032]

No, if they're originally set up to be toll roads, you can pay to go wherever you want. But to take away from public infrastructure to create toll roads out of them, that's where you should be having a second thought about it.

It's the principal of it all, buddy. All about me, right?

It is currently illegal to take existing interstate roads that are not tolled and then convert them into toll roads. The only time that is legal is if new lanes are added or the road is pretty much entirely rebuilt from the ground up.

 

[SSSnail]

It is currently illegal to take existing interstate roads that are not tolled and then convert them into toll roads. The only time that is legal is if new lanes are added or the road is pretty much entirely rebuilt from the ground up.

Take a look at the I-10, or pretty much any of these new toll roads that popped up in recent years. There was a buffer zone between the HOV lane and the regular lanes, the buffer zone is now gone, in its place is a new lane and presto, both are now toll lanes.

You can still use the lanes as HOV if you have enough people traveling in your car, but that requires you to sign up for a fastrak account, pay for the equipment, deposit money in that account. And check this out, during traffic hours, you'll still have to pay tolls even if you have the bodies for HOV usage.

I guess someone forgot to put clauses in the legality of raping citizens, huh?

That's the government you're supporting.

BTW,I voted for hookers and blow.

 

[Muse]

I've never paid for a hooker, blow (well, once, one hit), or a lane.

 

[pete6032]

Take a look at the I-10, or pretty much any of these new toll roads that popped up in recent years. There was a buffer zone between the HOV lane and the regular lanes, the buffer zone is now gone, in its place is a new lane and presto, both are now toll lanes.

You can still use the lanes as HOV if you have enough people traveling in your car, but that requires you to sign up for a fastrak account, pay for the equipment, deposit money in that account. And check this out, during traffic hours, you'll still have to pay tolls even if you have the bodies for HOV usage.

I guess someone forgot to put clauses in the legality of raping citizens, huh?

That's the government you're supporting.

BTW,I voted for hookers and blow.

Yes, govt has the ability to collect tolls when building additional capacity onto existing highways. It cannot, however, put a toll on a lane of a federal highway that was previously built as a freeway using federal transportation dollars.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/fact_sheets/tolling_programs.aspx

 

[SSSnail]

So, what do you think of them making previous HOV lane now toll lane? Or, turn the previous buffer zone into a lane, then turn BOTH the HOV lane and buffer zone into toll lanes?

 

[Brian Stirling]

You sound like a socialist. I bet you support Bernie Sanders. :sneaky:

Not quite, but of the options, and all the options suck, Bernie's my choice...

Another transportation related thing that was always for the benefit of the wealthy was the Concorde -- average folks couldn't afford it though there tax money helped to subsidize it. When tax payers pay for a road that they can't use without paying more but rich people can then the little guy is helping to subsidize the privilege of the wealthy.

There's a crap ton of these wonderfully regressive things in life...


Brian

 

[Brian Stirling]

This is my exact POV. That being said, if it was reasonable, I'd pay it vs sitting in traffic, but that doesn't mean it isn't BS.

Trust me I know BS -- they're my initials...


Brian

 

[destrekor]

How does the movable barrier work? Is it just manually moved or is it automated/controlled?

 

[pete6032]

So, what do you think of them making previous HOV lane now toll lane? Or, turn the previous buffer zone into a lane, then turn BOTH the HOV lane and buffer zone into toll lanes?

Was the lane turned into a toll lane, or was the lane turned into a lane where carpool/bus/motorcycle are free and now single drivers can drive on the lane too by paying a toll? If the HOV lane was previously underutilized then I see no problem in adding an option to use the lane by paying the toll.

The buffer zone lane would not have ever been built without tolls. The money was not in the budget to add another lane, so instead, a toll lane was built and the tolls collected will pay for the lane's construction and maintenance. I don't see anything wrong with that if the option is between a) not building another lane or b) building a toll lane.

 

[pete6032]

How does the movable barrier work? Is it just manually moved or is it automated/controlled?

Most have gate arms that go up and down. In the morning the road goes inbound and in the evening it goes outbound. Sometime in the afternoon before rush hour traffic starts, a Dept. of Transportation vehicle will close the entrance, drive the distance of the lane to ensure no vehicles are on it, and then open the entrance to traffic flowing the opposite direction.

Minneapolis:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.970...jhH43fz2ypt1iK1uUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Chicago:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.889...Vb7Jb4uHoq26muNN7g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

 

[LTC8K6]

It's silly, imo.

The whole concept of HOV lanes is to move more people using less vehicles.

Allowing me to bust down them by myself in my Hemi powered Jeep makes no sense.

 

[Sonikku]

The problem is unless they built a extra road / lane for this purpose only you are taking away lanes from normal drivers.

Carpooling lanes are fine but expecting for tax payers to pay for the roads to begin with and then charge them to use them also sounds horrible.

*Adjusts monocle, wipes lips with bib*
The plebeians can wait in line. For the rest of us our time is more simply more valuable.

 

[SSSnail]

Was the lane turned into a toll lane, or was the lane turned into a lane where carpool/bus/motorcycle are free and now single drivers can drive on the lane too by paying a toll? If the HOV lane was previously underutilized then I see no problem in adding an option to use the lane by paying the toll.

The buffer zone lane would not have ever been built without tolls. The money was not in the budget to add another lane, so instead, a toll lane was built and the tolls collected will pay for the lane's construction and maintenance. I don't see anything wrong with that if the option is between a) not building another lane or b) building a toll lane.

Did you read what I wrote with regards to how the new lane is used? If not go read it.

 

[Pantoot]

So, what do you think of them making previous HOV lane now toll lane?

They do that in a lot of places, except the toll is you have to drive a Leaf/Tesla/i3/Bolt etc.

 

[soulcougher73]

How much congested freeway would be cleared up by opening these 4 or 5 lanes to everyone?

 

[Phanuel]

Where I commute, pretty much none. Since the lane is full of people using it illegally or in electric cars. Or they've turned 80% of them into toll FasTrak roads.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How does the movable barrier work? Is it just manually moved or is it automated/controlled?

They call it a Zipper Barrier Machine. It is driven by a person. They probably do this once or twice a week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0Q2bDnBUc

Beginning of HOV/Fastrak lane on the 15 freeway. This is near Mira Mesa, just north of Qualcomm Stadium. BTW-This is cheap. Typically during high traffic the toll to go from Mira Mesa to the 78 is $8.00.

Near Rancho Bernardo, I commute through here every week day.

Further South. HOV/Fastrak lanes are in the middle and elevated in parts with some of their own entrances and exits.

 

[destrekor]

They call it a Zipper Barrier Machine. It is driven by a person. They probably do this once or twice a week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0Q2bDnBUc

That's mesmerizing.

 

[JulesMaximus]

That's mesmerizing.

It's kind of cool to see it in action.