Proposed toll road south of Portland runs into opposition

[65MAX]

Originally Posted by Leo

It’s kind of like asking a question like “What do you care if they build a strip club next to your house?”

No, it's NOTHING like asking that. Unless this road is going through your backyard, which is highly unlikely. Now if you object to strip clubs and toll roads on principle, no matter where they're located, (which is apparently the case) then fine. That's perfectly valid.

Originally Posted by Leo

The more particular answer is that building a pay-per-use road *guarantees* that no toll-free road will ever be built.

Well, I can guarantee that this road won't be built unless it IS a toll road. This is nowhere on ODOT's radar and they don't even want to address the congestion problem unless a outside party comes forward with a private plan. Then, and only then, they'll start talking about how this road would connect to publically owned roads.

[Leo]

Originally Posted by 65MAX

No, it's NOTHING like asking that. Unless this road is going through your backyard, which is highly unlikely. Now if you object to strip clubs and toll roads on principle, no matter where they're located, (which is apparently the case) then fine. That's perfectly valid.



Well, I can guarantee that this road won't be built unless it IS a toll road. This is nowhere on ODOT's radar and they don't even want to address the congestion problem unless a outside party comes forward with a private plan. Then, and only then, they'll start talking about how this road would connect to publically owned roads.

I didn't say "in my backyard." I said *next to my house*. On their own property. Just like the road.

I don't think you can give that guarantee. Things that are on the radar change. Otherwise, there would be no need for radar.

[deasine]

Kinda late, but what are toll roads where you have to stop and pay? Welcome to the 2010 everyone, modern day toll roads feature sensors and cameras that charge drivers.

[zilfondel]

Although I am against most new highways, I actually think this highway would be a good idea. It would really help the communities along 99W economically, particularly McMinnville, by giving them direct access to I-5.

However, I believe that we really need to aggressively improve passenger and freight rail along the I-5 and 99E & W corridors along with congestion charging, otherwise we'll have to "improve" I-5 to 4 or 5 lanes in each direction to meet the demand.

[JoshYent]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

Although I am against most new highways, I actually think this highway would be a good idea. It would really help the communities along 99W economically, particularly McMinnville, by giving them direct access to I-5.

However, I believe that we really need to aggressively improve passenger and freight rail along the I-5 and 99E & W corridors along with congestion charging, otherwise we'll have to "improve" I-5 to 4 or 5 lanes in each direction to meet the demand.

Agreed...this HWY needs to happen........it could also be a step towards extending it up and over the hill between Forest Grove and Hillsboro and connect to the Sunset HWY, allowing the valley to develop

[bvpcvm]

Originally Posted by JoshYent

allowing the valley to develop sprawl

FTFY

[NJD]

Sprawl inducer that eats up farmland, that is all it will do.

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by JoshYent

allowing the valley to develop

That is NOT a good thing.

PS - I can say that because I lived in Hillsboro from age zero to 19, when I moved to Portland.

[Okstate]

Yeah, hate to beat a dead horse but developing the valley would be tragic.

[JordanL]

Can you imagine? *shudder*

If we develop that valley, we won't be able to stop it. It will literally turn into the Inland Empire of Oregon... We'll make LA shake their head at the sprawl... I could see the sprawl stretching all the way from the west hills to the Coast Range...

It would be tragic.

But this road here has LESS to do with that eventuality... still, I'm personally always mindful of how easy it would be to just infect the entire valley between the west hills and the coast range.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by JoshYent

Agreed...this HWY needs to happen...

No.

Originally Posted by NJD

Sprawl inducer that eats up farmland, that is all it will do.

Yes.

[Okstate]

Originally Posted by JordanL

Can you imagine? *shudder*

If we develop that valley, we won't be able to stop it. It will literally turn into the Inland Empire of Oregon... We'll make LA shake their head at the sprawl... I could see the sprawl stretching all the way from the west hills to the Coast Range...

It would be tragic.

But this road here has LESS to do with that eventuality... still, I'm personally always mindful of how easy it would be to just infect the entire valley between the west hills and the coast range.

I honestly don't know if you are being sarcastic or not. Either way, based on precedant, yes this road here has MUCH to do with that "eventuality".

[RED_PDXer]

Originally Posted by pdxhome

I would love it if taxes adequatly covered the costs of roads. The reality is, to have taxes pay for roads we would probably need to pay $10-$12/gallon at the pump (maybe more) or impose a street utility tax or increase registration fees even more, etc. These taxing options are not possible for most jurisdictions in the US.

Without adequate funding through taxes, using tolls becomes the best option for funding a roadway project. It is it is a direct user cost, and you can actually mitigate driving habits through congestion pricing if desired.

Totally agree. We pay taxes, but far too few to actually cover the costs of our road-building endeavors, particularly when it comes to maintenance.