HOT Lane Proponents Disguise Truth
HOT lanes simply do not alleviate congestion...as illustrated.
It is said that if you tell a lie over and over again, eventually you start believing it yourself.
This is clearly happening in the continued debate over high occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes).
How many times have we been told that without the use of HOT lanes, widening on I-77 with general purpose lanes will take “25 years”? That “there are no other options”?
Let’s list a few.
“If the option is to have toll lanes and start in the near future or wait 25-plus years for general purpose lanes, the decision is a no-brainer,” said Chuck Travis, chairman of the Lake Norman Transportation Commission. LINK
“North Carolina’s Department of Transportation, though, says it would be 25 years or so before I-77 would be widened with traditional funding sources.” LINK
“I think the takeaway is that the option that is on the table, based on all the governmental framework we have in place and the current funding mechanisms available, the choice is (a high-occupancy toll lane) project … or no improvements to I-77 for 15 or 20 years,” said Thom Tillis. LINK
I could go on and on. The assumptions are out there that we’re looking at a 25 year total project, or even nothing at all done for 15 years, without HOT lanes.
I certainly won’t accuse people directly of lying, but often once something enters the narrative and gets repeated, the truth seems to get lost in the shuffle.
The following PDF file provided to PunditHouse is a letter written from the NCDOT to an elected official in January of this year.
While clearly pushing forward with the HOT lane decision, we learn on pages 4 and 5 that without HOT lanes and utilizing existing revenue streams, an entire project consisting of general purpose lanes could be completed around 2030, 17 years from now.
It should be noted that general purpose lane advocates are not endorsing a plan to widen the interstate from I-277 all the way to Exit 36. The congested portion of the interstate begins just before Exit 23, so the entire $330 million project mentioned that could be completed by 2030 could actually have a major impact on traffic significantly sooner if the expensive and unnecessary portion of the road (south of I-85) either is built last or not at all. Just start construction where the congestion actually is.
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What’s more telling is that a second approach was offered to construct general purpose lanes on I-77 to be completed by 2023, less than ten years from now, if other projects were put on hold or eliminated entirely.
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I wouldn’t suggest that there wouldn’t be political ramifications from proponents of the other projects, but for HOT lane advocates to sell their proposal as the “only” option is a disservice to the public dialogue. Vocalize the options in full transparency and let us decide. Don’t pretend they don’t exist.
And again, this assumption is for the much larger and unnecessary project. The general purpose lane stretch from Exit 23 and north is estimated at between $80 and $130 million dollars. With that figure in mind, the possible alternative project eliminations list would be smaller…or perhaps simple delay rather than eliminate.
What we are learning here is that we are not talking about resources, or a lack thereof. Afterall, the public portion of the HOT lanes will be more than the general purpose lane cost. We are talking about priorities and honesty.
Leadership needs to stop expecting the disenfranchised public to come up with the solutions for them. That’s not our job. If I had more time and didn’t already work four jobs I’d be happy to help. Just stop presenting us with false choices while pushing Parsons Brinckerhoff’s agenda.
You might consider, maybe the Speaker was too busy bullying, threatening, coercing, and exhorting members of the legislature for money, support, and other favors.
Maybe the Speaker was too busy building his business relationship with Time Warner cable and other lobbyist for campaign cash than to allocate money for for I-77 and his area. Maybe he likes people to pay for the same road three times over. Maybe he was too busy threatening the public that I-77 would not get improved if the toll road people didn’t get their toll road contract passed by him.
Maybe while his married chief of staff was having an affair with a married lobbyist in his shared Raleigh apartment, he was too busy watching or otherwise to work on money for I-77.
Someone ought to consider these things when you consider why he didn’t have the time to allocate the money for I-77. He is the Speaker all he has to do is wave his magic gavel and it’s done right?
Maybe there is personal money in the deal when the contract for the toll lanes happens.
Maybe he has a thing for grey bars and small confined spaces. One might consider these things.
maybe you are on crack
I would say Demographics for this website would favor that he is on Crystal Meth rather than Crack.
MAYBE THE RETHUGLICANS ARE ON CRACK. First majority in 100 years and they THROW IT AWAY for a few sheckels and to bully gays and poor people. Its Grotesque.
1. Define ‘Poor’.
2. Prove I’m not ‘gay’
Google Tillis and Bullying
This just in, film at 11
Speaker Tillis planning character attacks on fellow GOP House member Rep. Brawley.
GOP Executive Committee Votes to Censure Speaker Tillis, more counties interested in getting on board the Tillis Censure movement.
http://dailyhaymaker.com/?p=5517
This just in from multiple posts at redstate.com
http://www.redstate.com/2013/05/30/nc-house-speaker-thom-tillis-to-announce-run-for-senate/
Tillis has always had a tin ear on how things played with the public. When most people were financially hurting and most state workers were not given raises, he gave large raises to his own staff. Last year, when Tillis decided to do a self-promotion ”listening tour” to build his exposure to run for the Senate, he spent lots of taxpayer money to take along legislative staff. The Senate president on a similar tour used no public money.
When Zippergate broke, with two of Tillis’ married staff, including his ROOMMATE, were caught having affairs with married lobbyists, he first tried to stonewall the scandal, and then when they were finally forced to resign, he gave them hefty severance pay. Rep. Debra Conrad revealed that Tillis was shaking down GOP legislative candidates to give money to his campaign fund and using committee assignments as the bait.
Rep. Larry Pittman revealed that Tillis controlled all legislation in the House with a red-yellow-green color code system, and was blocking conservative legislation. Tillis got so mad at Pittman for this that he got the GOP vice chairman in his own county to move to Pittman’s county and announce he was going to primary Pittman. Rep. Brawley recently resigned as chairman of the Finance Committee due to Tillis bullying.
Brawley revealed among other things that Tillis had stormed to his office over a local bill to allow cable TV competition, told Brawley that the bill would be killed because Tillis ”had a business relationship with Time Warner” which was the existing monopoly provider, and slammed Brawley’s office door in his face. Brawley is a respected 9 term conservative legislator. Tillis’ record is a target rich environment for any opponent in the primary or general. Nominating him would insure the reelection of Kay Hagan.
Again, the biggest proof of duplicity on this topic is that HOT lane backers are utterly silent on the quickest, most efficient way to get HOT lanes built up 77 — convert the Red Line commuter rail pipe dream/money pit to a HOT/BRT project.
For that reason I am CONVINCED that their ONLY goal is to get a HOT project started that does not use half-cent transit or federal transit funds, thereby forever killing off the biggest threat to the Red Line pipe dream/money pit.
Disguise? It is a full-on conspiracy.
Right out in the open – because who needs to worry about votes or the will of the people when you have corporate bribes? They don’t even pretend any more…
Jeff, just as I’ve been saying for a while now – these two projects are linked.
This didn’t get much (read any) attention from the media, but the NCGA is moving legislation that will specifically benefit the Red Line.
Red Line project gets quiet boost from Raleigh. More to come?
Also, the “capacity study” being done by Norfolk Southern has been replaced with a “white paper” being done on how NS could participate in a P3 project. All this is happening while the pushers act like nothing is going on with the project.
“Nothing to see here. Move along.”
I am a business person and have always found the local Chamber of Commerce leaders to be credible but it seems that there is something going on that is not being told to members about the train line and the toll lanes that has me and others feel uncomfortable like we’re not being told the whole truth about what’s going on. Could someone explain where the connection is on the toll lanes and the train line from Charlotte. A basic understanding of the connection would be helpful. I just want to hear another side and not what the chamber is telling to me and other businesses in the area. I’m thinking that I may cancel my membership because somethings just not right. Thank you.
Fortune, The HOT Lanes will not relieve traffic congestion in the Lake Norman area, because most people 1) will refuse to pay the toll 2) cannot afford to pay the toll or 3) will not have the necessary three or more people in the vehicle to ride for free. FYI, riding for “free” means you still have to register and pay a monthly fee for a transponder. Even the NC DOT admits it will not relieve congestion, nor is it designed to. It is designed to change our behavior, to get us out of our cars. They think if they keep people miserable enough then they will say, “please build the Red Line, even though it is a bottomless money pit and it will also not relieve congestion.” Any money to be made will go to private investors, any losses will go to the taxpayer.
for instance what is a P3 that Rick Short talks about? I’m so busy running my business and want to understand but I don’t have time to keep up with the lingo but want to learn more.Thanks.
P3 means public/private/partnerships- What it means in the real world is if the business model like such as what is being crafted with the goal of making I-77 a toll road works out as planned- the corporations (Parsons B. et al) make all of the money- If it is a money loser the taxpayers pay up. You should pay more attention to this scam. I would not take advice from the Chamber of Commerce crowd.