This entry was posted on 11/10/2011 7:58 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Today, Chris Haley of "Stop Peach Pass" sent me an e-mail to announce the formation of "Stolen Lanes" (stolenlanes.org), an alliance of Chris with Victor Ramkissoon ("Against The Georgia Peach Pass") and Howard Rodgers of "Stop The HOT Lane!").
Next Thursday (November 17th) at 7:00 PM in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville, the group will host a town hall meeting to discuss the I-85 HOT lane issue. (Please see the "Stolen Lanes" website for more info.)
On behalf of the "Stolen Lanes" coalition, Chris has extended an offer to both the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) and the Georgia DOT to discuss this matter in a moderated environment, but both groups have declined as of the writing of this blog.
I applaud the efforts of the coalition in their efforts and have to wonder what both SRTA and GDOT (especially SRTA) are afraid of.
SRTA, if you are so adamant that the HOT lanes are a great thing for Georgia, then why shy away? Seems to me that it is implying that the HOT lanes are simply a money-making deal that amounts to little more than socioeconomic discrimination, hence the term "Lexus Lane".
If SRTA and GDOT truly care about the people of Georgia, then they would send representatives to hear the concerns of the people and work with them to come up with some kind of solution. Chris has extended an "olive branch" to you, thus I, as a taxpaying citizen of Georgia, urge you to accept it and take advantage of this "face-to-face" opportunity.
Finally, I urge all my readers to support the "Stolen Lanes" coalition and help put a stop to the HOT lanes. Traffic solutions should be tailored to helping all Georgians, and charging to travel in "Lexus Lanes" is definitely not the solution.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.
P.S. "Stolen Lanes", I would also ask SRTA what constitutes a "special case" for raising toll rates above the 90-cent-per-mile maximum.
11/11/2011 1:27 PM
Lilburn Lady wrote: I don't think they are afraid, just arrogant. In their view, the contracts have been signed, the lane is operating and it is a done deal, so why would they have to explain themselves to us nobodies? The contracts for the HOT Lanes have also already been signed for I-75 and I-285, I'm sure. Even though, when "public input" was going on for the HOT Lanes, the fact that those of us who responded, were overwhelmingly against them, had no impact on the final decision to spend our tax dollars on this huge swindle perpetrated on the tax payers.
I've participated in these "citizen panels" before and it is all a sham. The plans have been made, contracts signed and the surveys done before it ever gets to the citizen input stage. These folks work in a vacuum and apparently, do not require any authorization by the folks who will actually pay for the projects and whose lives, property values and commutes will be affected by them. Reply to this
11/15/2011 7:37 AMHoward Rodgers wrote:
P.S. "Stolen Lanes", I would also ask SRTA what constitutes a "special case" for raising toll rates above the 90-cent-per-mile maximum.
We can ask that, although I believe they are too afraid to answer any questions. Please contact me throught the stopthehotlane.com website. I have a proposal for you. Reply to this
12/13/2011 8:29 PM
lkjlkj wrote:
Let me ask you a question: How do you suggest we pay for transportation? Be specific.
I have noticed many of those complaining most loudly about solutions like HOT lanes offer no alternatives.
FACT: People are driving less, so there's less gas tax revenue, the only source in Georgia. It's partly due to gas prices, and they're doing it in more fuel-efficient cars. Companies are doing a lot more telecommuting. Heck, I will no longer be commuting as of 2012 as my job will switch to work-from-home. Gas tax revenues are declining and the rate of decline is most likely going to increase.
FACT: This is a heavily Republican state, and the Republicans, prodded by Grover Norquist, have painted themselves into a 'never raise taxes for anything for any reason' position. Everybody hates taxes, but the fact is we need them. It's a reckless and untenable position.
FACT: Costs for building and maintaining roads have gone up dramatically in recent years due to demand from India, China, and other developing countries. They will continue to rise.
So given 1) rapidly escalating costs, 2) declining tax revenues, and 3) the lack of political will to do anything about either, what do you and others propose? Bellyaching is easy. Make some proposals for fixing things. I'd love to see them. Our legislature will never raise the gas tax, and we see from the transportation sales tax proposals that they won't do anything about issues themselves -- they try to kick everything to the voters. At some point they have to do what they were elected to do and make tough and likely politically unpopular ones.
States like Oregon at least are investigating options like mileage taxes. It may not ever work, it may not fly politically, but at least they're acknowledging the realities above and making an effort to prepare for them. What is anyone in Georgia doing? And I do mean ANYONE.
I've lived in Georgia and three other states, and I do believe Georgia has the worst state government of them. Sticking your head in the sand only works so long. Reply to this
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