Well, to add to all of the debate about transit and highways, there was in article in the Metro Section of the Strib today about the impending addition of toll lanes to our highways. It provided a decent forum for me to begin airing some of my (still germinating) ideas about transit, transportation, and why the public should "subsidize" transit -- because we subsidies their SUV driving! The following is a commentary I wrote for the Strib . . . we'll see if they print it.
Wednesday's article on toll roads said that the state will "give preference to those that cost the public nothing." Unfortunately, this is a misnomer. Billions of taxpayer dollars are tied up in roads nationwide, even when capital costs are not considered. Recently, David Strom of the Taxpayer's League said that he did not think taxpayers should have to be responsible for subsidizing transit. Two can play that game. As a transit-dependent city resident, I don't think I should have to be responsible for subsidizing highway construction and the proliferation of automobile culture. Harold Kunstler, in his book "Home From Nowhere," estimates that $300 billion annually in driving-related costs are relegated to taxes beyond the gas tax. For instance, $20 billion a year is spent on routine maintenance nationwide. According to a report by the International Center for Technology Assessment (www.icta.org), the environmental costs of automobile use at the current level reach at least $60 billion. These are just two examples. If groups such as the Taxpayer's League have their way, we will spend more money on roads and disinvest in transit. Whether it will increase congestion or not is debatable. That it will put more drivers on the roads is not. With more drivers comes the need for parking. According to Kunstler, the "free" parking enjoyed by many drivers is actually subsidized by the Federal government in the form of tax writeoffs for the employers that provide it, to the tune of $85 billion a year. On top of this, more drivers means more gas used. The ICTA estimates that government subsidies to gas companies in the form of tax breaks total $9.1 to $17.8 billion a year. As a taxpayer, I am furious that I am forced to waste my money to subsidize more highway construction. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
