Weekly column - April 25th
There are other solutions that will lessen the burden carried by taxpayers that could solve our traffic problems. Some market-based solutions have been tried with success in other parts of the country. The 91 Express Lanes in Orange County, California are one example. The 91 Express Lanes is a toll road that was built by a private company at no cost to taxpayers. It serves more than 40,000 commuters a day with congestion-free lanes and market-based prices. While commuters can take their chances with traffic in the "regular" lanes, those taking the 91 Express Lanes drive by in congestion-free traffic. Since they were opened in December 1995, the lanes have saved more than 32 million hours of commuting time and have added $480 million to the economy.
Here is my column for this week. I'm back after getting bumped last week because of global warming. I wrote against the need for a new tax dedicated to transportation and about market alternatives.
My sources in this editorial are Randal O'Toole, who was gracious enough to speak with me, and his new study published by the Cato Institute.
Also, this episode from reason.tv provided information about the 91 Express Lanes:
You can find links to previous columns here.
Comments
Gasp! Proposing "Lexus Lanes" is class warfare. Having driven that highway a few times myself, you don't have to pay. But if you're in a hurry during rush hour, be prepared to fork over $8 or more.
I did a project in college about this. During my presentation I was a man on an island. But I guess that's par for the course when you're not a liberal & you attend Georgia Socialist University. I've heard their football mascot isn't going to be a panther, but a little Marxist.
If you're ever on Hwy 91 because you're going to Disneyland, the Nixon Library is about twenty miles away in Yorba Linda. Nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.
Posted by: Danny | April 25, 2008 08:13 AM
Jason,
are you really crazy....how dare you propose that private enterprise be involved in something like this. Do you realize that government can always do these kinds of projects much better and do you realize how much money you are taking out of the economy? And how do you expect the GDOT to be able to screw this up if private enterprise has the sayso. AND if private enterprise is building this who will get the bribes and inside info on what property the "elected" will need to buy in advance so they can sell it back to the developers? OR at least be able to have the inside information so their cousin "Billy Bob" can buy the property where the exit ramps are going to be.I think you need to back off this here idea as you are gona mess up the way we have been doing business here in the southern cresent for a long time.
I know you are a pretty smart guy but I honestly don't think you realize that these kinds of projects are of a very sensitive nature and there are a lot of elected and appointed folks that would lose a lot of money if you allow privatization of stuff like this. You know that letting contracts,deciding routing,determining locations involve a lot of....mmmmm I'm trying to think of the word....well and Uncle Joe use to say "you scratch my back....." and this kinda stuff involves a lot of GDOTing and back scratching. Now you don't want to be responsible for not allowing this kinda romance to go on do you?
You are almost saying that you think the private companies know better how to spend money than the government does and we both know that ain't true,why look at Nash Farms,The BoC Golf Resort,The Can't Use It For Horse Stuff Horse Arena,its to small according to the AQHA besides its floor is made out of concrete,and how about a park in Ellenwood that ain't got no entrance. I'm sure I could go on but I just want you to see that government knows best. By the way if you hear of anybody needing a virtual border fence I think the Dept. of Homeland Security has on for sale really cheap. Only cost you and me 20 million but heard it will be on the Govt. Surplus Sales site for not more that a couple of thousand after all it is in brand new never used condition and could possibly be used at Nash Farms to help keep those artifact stealing crooks out...it doesn't work but the crooks don't know that well at least the American crooks don't .
Posted by: Don | April 25, 2008 11:35 AM
The sarcasm is palpable.
Posted by: Jason | April 25, 2008 12:47 PM
"One of Gov. Perdue's legislative priorities was a State Transportation Infrastructure Bank. This proposal was carried by State Rep. John Lunsford, who represents a portion of Newton County."
So Representative Lunsford wants to solve the problem by creating more bureaucracy? These guys are starting to sound more and more like Democrats.
Posted by: Ryan Larosa | April 25, 2008 07:48 PM