So I know this is an old issue. They (the local city government) have been pitching Toll roads here in central Texas for as long as I’ve lived here. We seem to always win the fight. Recently I’ve noticed a little commercial on TV that really just disturbs me. The commercial itself is a few cars stuck in traffic. One of the cars is going on about options or something to the effect that if we had Toll roads there would be less traffic. WTF!!!
So in other words putting up a Toll plaza down on South MoPac between Davis Ln. and William Cannon will somehow, magically reduce traffic. Please tell me how. Tell me putting a Toll plaza on an existing road system will reduce the overall traffic in the city. This is total crap. It would be like adding a traffic light in the same location. All it will do it create a backup of cars waiting to pay the Toll. Oh, wait I heard they wanted to all cars to have the electronic sensors to auto-pay the toll. And what about people from out of town? How will they know before they ride down the freeway they need to stop and purchase this device? Dumb-ass, you still need to have the paying Toll plaza options
The only way I see this working is building new roads. Something central Texas needs anyway. Sure, I’m all for building new roads around here. We all know that is the biggest problem, you just don’t have enough road for the people who live here. Build new roads like up North of Austin, FM24 going through Round Rock. That I can understand. Just like the Beltway 8 in Houston. Everyone knows the Beltway is a Toll road. You have other options around the city. You have the money and want to travel fast, take the beltway.
But here in Austin they are trying to sell the idea that putting a Toll plaza on an existing road will reduce traffic. That is just stupid. Or frankly, people who believe that are the stupid ones.
My solution for reducing traffic is to get more employers to allow folks to work from home or work a modified work day. My only issue with that is I don’t like waking up at 5am to get on the road before traffic backups. Many employers here in Austin want the staff to come in early. I would rather work something like 10-7. Then I can sleep a little late. But this beats sitting for an hour in my car in the morning or afternoon. I know, Austin actually has it good as compared to other cities. I have some friends in Boston or San Francisco where an hour commute in the morning is a ‘good’ day. OMG. I would not last long there.
