What you do you think about toll lanes on I-77 between uptown and SC? Good idea to get something happening? Bad to turn it over to a private company? Back to the drawing board and push for more free lanes? What's your solution?
I’d like know, before any other Charlotte area major road projects, is when is the I-485 toll project and additional lanes are to be finished. Resources (people and material) is limited so let’s chew what we can before we try to eat/swallow more.
The I77 toll lane issue is a symptom of a greater issue of growth and public policy in NC. With Charlotte as one of the largest NC metro areas and economic engines in the state, the state is first considering necessary infrastructure improvements to a major interstate lifeline like I77 in 2040? Yet it has expanded additional free lanes on I85 and other expressways? It appears that the state is delaying or not properly prioritizing its investment in infrastructure - such as roadways, bicycle lanes, public transit, schools yet continually encouraging the relocation and growth of businesses and people to NC — a recipe for failure. Perhaps the state government needs to consider: [1] requiring developers to shoulder a greater share of the infrastructure cost and impact of their developments [“user fees”] [2] reconsider it’s strategic investments, policies, and tax structures, as the state is supposed to benefit its citizens and their qualities of life in addition to considering the overall economic ROIs of its investments in infrastructure [3] regarding I77 perhaps it can glean some ideas on how best to accelerate improvements by examining how other states have dealt with toll roads (IL, IN, PA, NY, WV) rather than being held hostage to a private company for 50 yrs. There must be better alternatives to CINTRA as the cost for traveling the toll lanes on North I77 is egregious / outrageous when compared to comparable distances traveled on the tollways of these other states.
The managed lanes, what these will also be, do nothing to relieve congestion. They are there to give a reliable travel time from point A to B for those who can pay the ridiculous fares. Drive the northern segment at any time during the 3-7 window. It’s absurd what they are charging.
I’m not opposed to toll roads run by the NCDOT with $$ staying in state. Cintra/I77 Mobility are a disaster waiting to happen. How many of their roads already went bankrupt? That’s their MO. We have seen this story before. Hell no to this.
Exactly. I would like to see Cintra's original revenue projection assumptions broken down by number of trips and average fares. Compare that to the actual numbers today. Guarantee you that trips are way below, and average fares are way up. There is an inelastic demand curve so a few people will pay whatever is charged, meaning fewer divers use the toll lanes and the free traffic lanes remains congested. Cintra does not care about relieving congestion, but maximizing their revenue. This argument was made before the project won final approval and seems to have proven to be true.
I’ve said it before. Toll lanes are fine but not with the company that gave us our toll lanes to Davidson and beyond. Cinta. Those toll lanes are the worst signed, I’ll conceived and dangerous I’ve ever been on. They are crazy confusing.
It seems to me that the length of time for the toll lanes (50 years) and the fluctuating daily usage fees are all potentially negotiable terms. Maybe the state should hire some knowledgeable, and capable, negotiators to see what kind of a deal can be hammered out. Once that process has been completed (in a relatively transparent way), then the media and the politicians can weigh in further to see if it's worth it.
The Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority was created in 1956 to end congestion between two growing cities (before the Interstate System was created). Users, including all north/south travelers from NY, NJ and points north to the south and FL as well as local commuters were made to pay tolls to cover debt obligations for construction and ongoing maintenance. In 1992 the toll barriers came down when the Turnpike bonds were paid off. Maintenance then was covered by fuel tax revenue. This is how toll roads should be engineered, built and funded. Paid for by users. Not taxpayers.
What you do you think about toll lanes on I-77 between uptown and SC? Good idea to get something happening? Bad to turn it over to a private company? Back to the drawing board and push for more free lanes? What's your solution?
I’d like know, before any other Charlotte area major road projects, is when is the I-485 toll project and additional lanes are to be finished. Resources (people and material) is limited so let’s chew what we can before we try to eat/swallow more.
The I77 toll lane issue is a symptom of a greater issue of growth and public policy in NC. With Charlotte as one of the largest NC metro areas and economic engines in the state, the state is first considering necessary infrastructure improvements to a major interstate lifeline like I77 in 2040? Yet it has expanded additional free lanes on I85 and other expressways? It appears that the state is delaying or not properly prioritizing its investment in infrastructure - such as roadways, bicycle lanes, public transit, schools yet continually encouraging the relocation and growth of businesses and people to NC — a recipe for failure. Perhaps the state government needs to consider: [1] requiring developers to shoulder a greater share of the infrastructure cost and impact of their developments [“user fees”] [2] reconsider it’s strategic investments, policies, and tax structures, as the state is supposed to benefit its citizens and their qualities of life in addition to considering the overall economic ROIs of its investments in infrastructure [3] regarding I77 perhaps it can glean some ideas on how best to accelerate improvements by examining how other states have dealt with toll roads (IL, IN, PA, NY, WV) rather than being held hostage to a private company for 50 yrs. There must be better alternatives to CINTRA as the cost for traveling the toll lanes on North I77 is egregious / outrageous when compared to comparable distances traveled on the tollways of these other states.
The managed lanes, what these will also be, do nothing to relieve congestion. They are there to give a reliable travel time from point A to B for those who can pay the ridiculous fares. Drive the northern segment at any time during the 3-7 window. It’s absurd what they are charging.
I’m not opposed to toll roads run by the NCDOT with $$ staying in state. Cintra/I77 Mobility are a disaster waiting to happen. How many of their roads already went bankrupt? That’s their MO. We have seen this story before. Hell no to this.
Exactly. I would like to see Cintra's original revenue projection assumptions broken down by number of trips and average fares. Compare that to the actual numbers today. Guarantee you that trips are way below, and average fares are way up. There is an inelastic demand curve so a few people will pay whatever is charged, meaning fewer divers use the toll lanes and the free traffic lanes remains congested. Cintra does not care about relieving congestion, but maximizing their revenue. This argument was made before the project won final approval and seems to have proven to be true.
You hit the nail right on the head, Dan!
I’ve said it before. Toll lanes are fine but not with the company that gave us our toll lanes to Davidson and beyond. Cinta. Those toll lanes are the worst signed, I’ll conceived and dangerous I’ve ever been on. They are crazy confusing.
It seems to me that the length of time for the toll lanes (50 years) and the fluctuating daily usage fees are all potentially negotiable terms. Maybe the state should hire some knowledgeable, and capable, negotiators to see what kind of a deal can be hammered out. Once that process has been completed (in a relatively transparent way), then the media and the politicians can weigh in further to see if it's worth it.
The Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority was created in 1956 to end congestion between two growing cities (before the Interstate System was created). Users, including all north/south travelers from NY, NJ and points north to the south and FL as well as local commuters were made to pay tolls to cover debt obligations for construction and ongoing maintenance. In 1992 the toll barriers came down when the Turnpike bonds were paid off. Maintenance then was covered by fuel tax revenue. This is how toll roads should be engineered, built and funded. Paid for by users. Not taxpayers.