A few years ago they were thinking of stopping toll collection on the 836 expressway – remember? Then something happened (Who remembers what?) and instead the tolls there went up. Now there’s a weak imitation of exciting architecture at the toll plaza there (Calatrava on the cheap, costs too much to go to
Milwaukee and see
how it’s really done), and the SunPass reigns almost supreme. Tolls collected automatically. Painless! A new stretch of the Miami-Dade Expressway system opened this week, and there’s no way to pay cash. You have to use the SunPass. Wow! SunPasses flying off the shelves, according to the
Sunday Miami Herald.
What’s really going on?
Well, here’s today’s Economix column in the NY Times. It reveals that the automatic collection of tolls is a way to keep raising the tolls. No one will notice, they think. The column points out that in New Jersey the tolls on one major expressway are the same as they’ve always been. Except that now the governor is thinking of a big increase.
The bottom line, according to an economist’s research on highway tolls: “After an electronic system is put in place, tolls start rising sharply.”
Chapter Two
Here's a little surprise: Four members of the expressway authority resign rather than continue with tougher financial disclosure rules. It's in
Tuesday's Herald here. Stay tuned. This looks like the start of a saga.
1 comment:
One would also think the tolls would go down once they went strictly electronic, since they did not need to keep the toll plazas manned with workers to take your money. Seems like the costs go down, but we still pay more. I'm sure they will find some way to waste the money.
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