Friday, February 03, 2006
Tollway MIght Have Beens
There is indeed something else the Toll Highway Authority can do. And the answer is even better than “delay the toll tax hike” or even “freeze tolls for the next five or ten years.”
The reality is, the tollways can and should be converted to freeways, just like the ones that circumvent most major cities in America.
I confess to a certain bias against taxes and tolls, and that bias does lead me to ask questions. It’s the flip side of the power parties’ bias in favor of raising taxes and asking questions later (if ever).
I made a startling discovery while researching the toll tax hike in connection with my candidacy as this year’s Libertarian Party nominee for governor.
Funds that should be applied to maintenance and operation of the tollway system are being diverted to other uses, and the Tollway Board has never, to my knowledge, raised an objection. (They evidently think raising toll taxes is easier.)
Funding source #1: Motor fuel taxes paid by tollway motorists total more than $80 million per year. And that’s just taxes on the fuel they consume only while driving the tollway. Those gas tax funds should be earmarked for the toll highways, since that’s where they are raised.
Funding source #2: The federal government sends Illinois more than $50 million per year in federal highway aid specifically based on 274 interstate highway miles than comprise the tollway system. (Many millions more come to Illinois for other roads, but this $50 million figure is tied directly to the 274 Interstate highway miles currently operated as tollways.) It’s not because these roads are tollways; it’s because these Interstate highways exist, regardless of their status. Those federal highway dollars which are generated by the tollway system’s miles of road should be earmarked for use on the tollways.
(We should not forget, either, that the tollway system nets more than $8 million a year in concession revenue.)
Remarkably, the figures from alternative sources virtually match the legitimate costs of operating these highways.
·The Toll Highway Authority pays about $80 million to retire construction bonds every year – virtually the same amount as should be coming to the tollways from motor fuel taxes paid by tollway drivers.
· The legitimate costs of operating the tollways (such as repairs and law enforcement) come to just about $50 million annually – virtually the same amount as should be coming to the tollways from federal highway aid.
That, Mr. Philip, is “what you can do.” Demand your fair share of federal highway dollars. Demand your fair share of state motor fuel tax revenue. Use your considerable political influence with the DuPage Republicans like the Republican nominee for governor, Jim Ryan, whose only comments on the toll tax hike to date have been, 1) let’s study it for a while and 2) whatever you do, don’t raise the toll tax before the election.
For that matter, ask your brother for the state and federal money the tollway operators should be entitled to. Arthur Philip’s brother is, after all, Senate President Pate Philip, arguably the most powerful Republican politician in the state.
Tollway drivers can do their part, as well. They can join my drive to free the toll slaves by calling (a toll free number) to join the campaign to turn the tollways into freeways.
It’s feasible, it’s desirable, and there’s no time like the present – before the election.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
The reality is, the tollways can and should be converted to freeways, just like the ones that circumvent most major cities in America.
I confess to a certain bias against taxes and tolls, and that bias does lead me to ask questions. It’s the flip side of the power parties’ bias in favor of raising taxes and asking questions later (if ever).
I made a startling discovery while researching the toll tax hike in connection with my candidacy as this year’s Libertarian Party nominee for governor.
Funds that should be applied to maintenance and operation of the tollway system are being diverted to other uses, and the Tollway Board has never, to my knowledge, raised an objection. (They evidently think raising toll taxes is easier.)
Funding source #1: Motor fuel taxes paid by tollway motorists total more than $80 million per year. And that’s just taxes on the fuel they consume only while driving the tollway. Those gas tax funds should be earmarked for the toll highways, since that’s where they are raised.
Funding source #2: The federal government sends Illinois more than $50 million per year in federal highway aid specifically based on 274 interstate highway miles than comprise the tollway system. (Many millions more come to Illinois for other roads, but this $50 million figure is tied directly to the 274 Interstate highway miles currently operated as tollways.) It’s not because these roads are tollways; it’s because these Interstate highways exist, regardless of their status. Those federal highway dollars which are generated by the tollway system’s miles of road should be earmarked for use on the tollways.
(We should not forget, either, that the tollway system nets more than $8 million a year in concession revenue.)
Remarkably, the figures from alternative sources virtually match the legitimate costs of operating these highways.
·The Toll Highway Authority pays about $80 million to retire construction bonds every year – virtually the same amount as should be coming to the tollways from motor fuel taxes paid by tollway drivers.
· The legitimate costs of operating the tollways (such as repairs and law enforcement) come to just about $50 million annually – virtually the same amount as should be coming to the tollways from federal highway aid.
That, Mr. Philip, is “what you can do.” Demand your fair share of federal highway dollars. Demand your fair share of state motor fuel tax revenue. Use your considerable political influence with the DuPage Republicans like the Republican nominee for governor, Jim Ryan, whose only comments on the toll tax hike to date have been, 1) let’s study it for a while and 2) whatever you do, don’t raise the toll tax before the election.
For that matter, ask your brother for the state and federal money the tollway operators should be entitled to. Arthur Philip’s brother is, after all, Senate President Pate Philip, arguably the most powerful Republican politician in the state.
Tollway drivers can do their part, as well. They can join my drive to free the toll slaves by calling (a toll free number) to join the campaign to turn the tollways into freeways.
It’s feasible, it’s desirable, and there’s no time like the present – before the election.
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 4:09 AM
