More Road Tolls A Sure Thing In California's Future

A $20 Billion transportation bond, approved by voters in Nov., was just the start. The governor and legislature have signaled interest in continuing toll road building via public-private partnerships financed by tolls, sure to upset many drivers.

2 minute read

February 14, 2007, 5:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid

"There is emerging consensus in the Capitol that the state should follow the path already blazed elsewhere and look to tolls to help bankroll new roads, public and private."

"Voters last November approved billions in borrowing for roads, but that was only a start; the money won't meet all the state's transportation needs and never was intended to. Nor would anything short of a major increase in the gas tax - one for which voters appear to have no appetite. That leaves tolls."

"'The existing way of paying for these projects is not going to work,' said Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach). 'We're used to free roads and everything being free. That is a 1950s model. If we want to move forward, we are going to have to head in a different direction.'"

"Under pressure from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been pushing for the state to start shifting the cost - and some control - of road building to the private sector, lawmakers last May authorized government agencies to build four demonstration projects in partnership with investment banks, shipping companies and other businesses."

"'California is famous for the freeway, and it has been a great thing,' said Joel Kotkin, an author of books on demographics and planning. 'But it is from a time when the state had a lot of money coming in. We are in a different situation now. You have to start looking at these other options. The alternatives are gridlock or spending the state into bankruptcy.'"

"'New construction is going to have to be financed at least in part by tolls,' said Lowenthal. 'Who will control them is an open question.'"

Thanks to ABAG-MTC library

FULL STORY: California's future may be paved with fees; Voter-approved bonds won't bankroll all of the state's new roads. Up ahead: public and private tollways.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007 in The Los Angeles Times

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