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Author	Topic: As transit funds grow shorter, the call for tolls grows louder	Post a Reply Back to Topics

nraacct Champion Author North Carolina Posts:6,878 Points:1,469,025 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:33:39 AM Ignore nraacct Report Abuse Transportation advocates and officials across Connecticut gathered in the state capitol Monday to face a sobering fact: In an age of soaring deficits on both the state and national levels, the funds available for transit improvements are shrinking fast. Visit The Connecticut Mirror for full article

nraacct

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Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:33:39 AM

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Transportation advocates and officials across Connecticut gathered in the state capitol Monday to face a sobering fact: In an age of soaring deficits on both the state and national levels, the funds available for transit improvements are shrinking fast.

Visit The Connecticut Mirror for full article

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carranco Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,027 Points:269,015 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:44:34 PM Ignore carranco Report Abuse No matter how much we pay, it is never enough.
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,762 Points:1,853,345 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 7:09:55 PM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse Transit funds deteriorated along with doubled gas prices. What would you expect, Connecticut? Complain to Obama and see if he cares. (haha)
Straitliner Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,505 Points:239,250 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 6:31:32 PM Ignore Straitliner Report Abuse Outlaw toll roads.
badboy72714 All-Star Author Arkansas Posts:821 Points:483,435 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 4:22:37 PM Ignore badboy72714 Report Abuse i would go for toll roads. if ths states would use the money to keep up the roads
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 1:25:14 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse FortVancouver01: I thought user taxes on refined products were supposed to pay for roads. Toll roads should be outlawed. Yes, we know those who cry foul about taxes are the first ones to whine about their roads not being free of costs. You have two choices here: get enough tax revenues to pay for the infrastructures that you want to remains "free" (as there is nothing that is free), or use the "pay as you go" system like tolls that create many headaches and slow commerce.
FortVancouver01 Champion Author Washington Posts:1,170 Points:288,795 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 12:21:56 PM Ignore FortVancouver01 Report Abuse I thought user taxes on refined products were supposed to pay for roads. Toll roads should be outlawed.
knutzAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,248 Points:372,680 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 11:50:52 AM Ignore knutzAL Report Abuse sammyadams.......... ........ ............... ... . . . ................. A BIG DITTO MY FRIEND.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,057 Points:793,605 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 11:34:28 AM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse (1) From the article: "Connecticut's own deficit seems to rise daily -- it is now estimated at around $400 million for this fiscal year -- prompting budget cuts to a variety of different state agencies." (2) From the article: "Connecticut has eliminated all of its tolls and relies mostly on gasoline taxes and federal funding for transportation. "We, as citizens, have to take on more responsibility for funding," (3) From the article: "Putting our fiscal house in order after 20 years of ignoring it is a very important issue..." ============================================================== MrDeath666 nailed it and the above portions of the article (all interrelated) provide the solution. 1) Budget Cuts. We all must live within the constraints of a budget. So why not "government"? Whether Federal, State, or local the PEOPLE need to prioritize where the spending should occur. If the people want to spend Trillion$ bombing worthless real estate in the Middle East and then rebuild THEIR infrastructure (all the while making no friends), then they shouldn't complain about OUR crumbling infrastructure. The same goes for "entitlements". 2) Part of the above comment requires US take the responsibility for funding. Reliance on the Federal government for transportation funding should end. Except for the "post roads" referenced in the Constitution, building roads and bridges should be State and local matters. This will help eliminate the "sleight of hand" used to raise money for road maintenance and then divert it to socialist schemes used to buy votes. 3) Putting our fiscal house in order sounds redundant, but it needs to be repeated over and over again until it is ingrained in our domestic and foreign policy. The U.S. Constitution clearly defines the role of the Federal government and EVERYTHING else is reserved to the States and the people. No where does the Constitution authorize the FED's involvement in "education", the "environment", "energy", "health care", etc., so we must completely abolish the Department of Education, the EPA, Department of Energy, and repeal ObamaCare. The States can better handle these problems. .
Teddy_KGB Rookie Author Atlanta Posts:42 Points:5,150 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 11:31:49 AM Ignore Teddy_KGB Report Abuse How about proper spending and budgeting. If that were done, there wouldn't be an issue
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,167 Points:1,299,195 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 11:17:05 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse I remember when NC had its first trillon dollar budget.. now it's around 15 trillion some 20 years later
JDchefF Champion Author Lancaster Posts:1,055 Points:230,220 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 11:07:54 AM Ignore JDchefF Report Abuse The state needs to use the gas tax and other transportation taxes it receives for only transportation and road repairs. Not for other pork projects. Also get Your budget inline just like the rest of use have to. Cut out the unnecessary spending.
lesabreAZ Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,696 Points:413,430 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:58:55 AM Ignore lesabreAZ Report Abuse more tolls for the Govmint trolls
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,270 Points:2,372,345 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:58:17 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse if it was profitabl money would pour into it
investmentdr Champion Author Cleveland Posts:4,034 Points:1,456,025 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:54:49 AM Ignore investmentdr Report Abuse bottom line is people will not pay what public transit really costs
mitt4prez Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,752 Points:1,247,175 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:54:49 AM Ignore mitt4prez Report Abuse Even the so-called Republicans in Connecticut howl for tolls. As has been said, cut spending elsewhere if you want more transportation projects. PUt the dam govt on the diet it insists is healthy for the citizenry.
VomVom Champion Author Calgary Posts:3,857 Points:1,627,080 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:53:05 AM Ignore VomVom Report Abuse Most politicians use the gasoline tax money for general account purposes. Road maintenance and transportation planning have been ignored for years. Now with failing bridges and other transportation infrastructures needing upgrade, the easiest way to raise the needed fund is by charging toll, a form of taxation really.
jamofsocal All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:943 Points:230,435 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:45:57 AM Ignore jamofsocal Report Abuse If a state charges gasoline tax, then where is the money going? It should be spent on the roads and therefore toll booths should not be necessary.
hornet17 Champion Author Vancouver Posts:1,323 Points:440,865 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:42:55 AM Ignore hornet17 Report Abuse around here they are just starting to introduce tolls on new bridges, which is only making people drive around on the old free bridges clogging those all up.
MrDeath666 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,621 Points:245,165 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 11, 2012 10:37:20 AM Ignore MrDeath666 Report Abuse Never occurs to politicians just to cut back their reckless spending.