Look out! Here come toll roads
Just barely over five years ago, the rally cry was fierce.
Best I can remember, it went something like this: ‘Let’s go over there and get those suckers. They flew planes into our buildings. They have nuclear weapons. They have this coming.’
Thus the war in Iraq was born. It was a war, I got the impression, people thought would be ‘fun.’ America would get to use some nifty military equipment, exact some revenge, and reaffirm the belief that no one messes with the United States.
Five years later, 4,000 soldiers have died, 60,000 have been injured, over $500 billion has been spent, and among other things, Tennessee is strongly considering toll roads. These proposed toll roads are just one of the many consequences the war has created.
With the federal government spending roughly $500 million a day in Iraq, things like roads in America are further down the funding ladder. It’s why Tennessee has seen $237 million in promised federal highway dollars yanked away since December 2005.
What that means in layman’s terms is the state is up the river without a paver. Road construction costs are soaring and federal funds are dwindling. It’s a crippling combination.
But wait ‘ up in the sky ‘ here comes toll roads to the rescue. According to House Transportation Committee chairman Phillip Pinion, a Democrat from Union City, toll roads are necessary to jump start road and bridge projects that are in danger of becoming extinct due to federal highway cuts.
As much as I hate to admit it, and as much as I hate toll roads, I believe Pinion has a point. In this global market and tough economic times, Tennessee simply cannot afford to fall a step behind in addressing our transportation needs.
Rank them in any order you like, education, roads, and economic development are any state’s top three priorities. And those priorities must be met.
Faced with disappearing education dollars, Tennesseans decided a state lottery was the magical cure and thus lottery ticket sales began in January 2004. Fortunately for toll roads, they don’t have to pass the muster of a statewide referendum to go into effect like the lottery did. The General Assembly can wave its magic wand and make toll roads appear.
As I gaze into my crystal ball, my prediction is toll roads will be a thing of the future in Tennessee for new building projects. And it’s a prediction that makes me cringe.
I hate toll roads. I hate slowing down when a see a toll booth ahead. I hate rolling down my window. And most of all I hate handing over my money ‘ which is $2 to drive over the bridge to reach my vacation spot at Hilton Head Island.
If toll roads were to come to Tennessee, I wouldn’t like it. And it’s fair to say a great many Tennesseans wouldn’t like it either. But considering what’s happening all around us, toll roads appear a necessary evil.
In a perfect world, the simple solution would be to eliminate all the waste in government, the millions of dollars spent to line the pockets of defense contractors in Iraq, and the millions spent on pork projects here in America. But I don’t think we can wait for that perfect world.
If we want better roads and bridges in Tennessee, it looks like the state is going to have to generate some of the money itself. That means we might get stuck with the nasty inconvenience, and added expense, of toll roads.
Are we having fun yet?
James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].