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For Loop 820 Expansion,
Against Double Taxing
TX-DOT held a public hearing on the proposed Loop 820 expansion on Tuesday evening, July 1, 2008. Their proposal calls for the addition of six new lanes of traffic, over a 6.4-mile stretch, between the Northeast Mall and I-35. Four of the lanes, in the middle of the highway would be "managed" lanes, or toll lanes. Only two of the new lanes would be public access.
After all of the locally elected officials and city officials finished singing the praises of this toll way project, I was given the opportunity to address the room. Channel 11 News captured one of my comments.
I, like most Northeast Tarrant County residents who drive Loop 820 on a regular basis, am for the expansion of the highway between the Northeast Mall and I-35. However, I am against unfair toll taxes being levied against those who use this public highway. These are public highways we already paid for. I am also against the state partnering with foreign companies to manage the toll lanes. This project looks, sounds, and smells like the Trans-Texas Corridor.
The proposed toll tax, according to Bud Kennedy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, will be $4 one way. A round trip in the proposed toll lanes would cost a driver $8 a day. That's a pocketbook hit of $40 per week, or over $2000 per year. Multiply this expense by two if your spouse has a similar commute. Only a privileged few would be able to afford to drive in these two toll lanes and I, like most residents of Northeast Tarrant, am not privileged. We can't afford this.
The bottom line is that due to the failure of our state government, and the lack of political foresight and overall political will by our elected officials, this project has yet to even break ground.
You and I can make an affordable transportation solution happen, and it can be done without double taxation by means of toll tax booths on public highways we already paid for. First, what happened to the tax money that northeast Tarrant residents already paid into the transportation fund with our gas taxes? The state of Texas has a projected budget surplus of $10 billion dollars, which is expected to reach $15 billion next year. Part of the projected surplus can, and should be, set aside for immediate transportation upgrades. Finally, we need to take toll taxes off the solution table unless oversight of the booths remains with the state, a company in this state manages the money collected from the booths, and the booths come down once the project is paid for.
Please join me in supporting an expansion of Loop 820 that all Northeast Tarrant County drivers will benefit from and can afford.
Channel 11 News story and Video
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Political Ad
paid for by the Chris Utchell for Texas House Campaign, P.O. Box 48241, Watauga, TX 76148, Mindy Brand - Treasurer
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