BIKE: Huge funding gap revealed in TxDOT's toll road plan

[Roger Baker]

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/transcom/agendas/1004.htm

If you go to item 7 of the above link and open it up, you will find a 
blue MO link to TxDOT's new statewide Texas Metropolitan Mobility Plan, 
with Austin's toll roads featured as a prominent central element, this 
being subject to approval this Thursday morning at the TTC meeting.

This is a 71 page long PDF file, and if you go the appendix item  CI, 
there you will find Austin's new plan (as mandated in accord with the 
wishes of Governor Rick Perry) and here summarized by TxDOT in ten or 
so pages.

"In addition to the $3.45 billion needed to fill the gap, the CAMPO  
TMMP has identified the need of $8.5 billion to address the 
rehabilitation of the transportation system. This important aspect will 
require further study".  -- page 27

In plain English, the toll road-centric planning philosophy implies a 
gigantic impossible-to-bridge funding gap because the road lobby 
ignored maintenance costs. Moreover, this is TxDOT's own description 
which assumes that the $2 billion in toll road municipal bond projects 
do not default in the meantime due to rising fuel costs.

  -- Roger
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