No doubt some of our roads and bridges need repairs, others may need replaced and there will always new ones required from time-to-time. Toll roads are definitely not the answer! No money available? Of course not! With millions upon millions of tax dollars collected annually from gasoline and diesel fuels (For both Federal and State Treasuries) plus operator and vehicle license and other fees; where is it? Show me the Money! It was collected for and should have been used to maintain our highway system. Unfortunately our elected representatives have managed to squander most of it.

A good percentage of these funds was undoubtedly funneled into and used for general budgetary items having nothing to do with roads, but instead supported whatever pork barrel or feel good projects our “leaders” deemed necessary. (Benefiting a few at the expense of many as usual.) And don’t forget the enormous funds siphoned off to support mass transit. These transit systems, small or large, regardless of type have one thing in common—if the users had to pay the actual cost of this service, no one would be able to afford it! Instead, you and I pay the lions share for something only those few having no alternative will use. Enough said.

Let’s take a good look at what Raleigh proposes to do to us now. First, a Commission or Toll Authority of some kind will be established and staffed by highly paid political cronies. They will be given the power to condemn (confiscate) any property they wish. Next they will hire some expensive consulting firm to advise and justify any all plans already in the works for the so-called “public good”. Don’t believe their estimates, figures don’t lie, but liars figure. After all that nonsense you can count on the following. Interest bearing bonds will be issued to raise literally billions of dollars. We all know it will take several years to build new roads and bridges. There will be no income from this “investment” for a long time Perhaps never.

Assuming toll roads are actually completed 10 or 20 years from now, this Authority will then be faced with the necessity of hiring a veritable army of men and women to man the toll booths, perform maintenance, operate equipment, run safety patrols, etc. And don’t forget the bevy of high priced supervisors required to run this boondoggle. All of these people in addition to good wages will have to be given regular job benefits along with big retirement packages. Operating costs will stagger the imagination! After about 30 or 40 years this money losing pipedream will have to be taken over, financed and operated using regular tax revenue. Mr. And Mrs. Taxpayer—shafted again!

Instead of wasting time and money on toll roads, I have a much better idea. Let’s just build more rest areas, equip them all with tollbooths and let nature take its course.

Gene Mays

8/24/2001