Letter- Who Benefits from HOT Lanes |
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NoSUV
New Slug Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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quote: Sticks and stones. Sorry that you are so very challenged. Have you only just now realized the paragraph you missed earlier and are trying to divert attention from your obvious mistake? dark, I'm not angry or upset with you - I pity you. |
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darkprime
New Slug Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I read it multiple times. You are the one who is diverting from my question on how hot lanes (specifically toll booths) benefit the environment. If it doesn't in your opinion, then say so, instead you just ignore it. Why don't you answer the question? If you think I'm so vastly inferior to you that it sickens your stomach, then why don't you explain what it is you think i'm missing in terms that any toddler could understand.
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sluDgE
Master Slug Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 501 |
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FWIW & IMHO ... modern science can fix many things, but in NoSUV's case modern science just can't fix stupid. [;)]
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SpongeBob
New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Sheez, someone get a bucket of water and throw it on these folks!
Without NoSUV, how much less exciting would our board be? He is the cinnamon in our latte, the chipotle in our salsa, the sharp pointy object in our muffin, and the swift kick in the shin that makes all our days brighter! That he is inconsistent, that his arguments are circular, that he is selfish, proud, and smelly -- these things we all know and love about dear NoSUV. Save your breath. |
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darkprime
New Slug Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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I thought the VA state legislature played the role of our villian; things just don't work out that well with too many villians.
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NoSUV
New Slug Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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In order to both help solve the (relatively) short term problem of regional transportation as well as the longer term environmental problem of global warming, 2 initiatives need to happen, and fairly quickly.
1. Better use needs to be made of mass transit. Since folks using the slug system are going from one point to another over a relatively long distance, it is ideal for them to use mass transit instead of carpools. Because they refuse to pay for their rides, the only way to provide the incentive for them to take mass transit is to either legislate it by banning them by eliminating carpools (except SULEV, point 2) or making it more expensive to carpool than to take mass transit. That means that either mass transit needs to be less than free (what slugs currently pay) or charges need to be made on carpools so that the individual cost is above that of the mass transit. Toll booths seem to be the best solution since they also have the potential to raise revenue, which could be used for mass transit system subsidies. 2. Non-taxpayer incentives are needed to encourage consumers to purchase only SULEV vehicles. Although having every vehicle in the region may not make a significant difference in curbing the predicted environmental changes, a lot of little differences add up. Back when the hybrid exemption was unlimited, the news media reported purchases of hybrids in the region were far higher than the national average. No reports have been forthcoming since the law change last year, so one can only assume that the sales figures are no longer news worthy. You don't need subsidies to modify consumer choices - so our taxes do not necessarily need to be used to encourage consumers to make environmentally sound purchasing decisions. These 2 points support the conclusion that either toll roads are needed with hybrid exclusion, or legislation is needed to change the express lanes from High Occupancy Vehicle to Mass Transit and SULEV Only Vehicle. |
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sluDgE
Master Slug Joined: 27 Oct 2003 Status: Offline Points: 501 |
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BUMPing up above the spam! [;)]
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DC2RV
Master Slug Joined: 28 Feb 2002 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 1014 |
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I'll see that bump and bump again.
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n/a
New Slug Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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Some obvious replies to NoSUVs satatements:
"Better use needs to be made of mass transit." Anyone who actually rides the metro would know that the trains are elbow-to-elbow, standing-room-only during morning and evening rush hours. This reveals that NoSUV does not practice what NoSUV preaches. But since you bring it up, why would anyone subject themselves to that kind of torture; longer commutes (1 hour + vs. 30-45 min. slugrides), high costs ($11.45 daily rndtrp./parking vs. free slugging), not to mention the inconvenient, crowded, dirty conditions on the trains. NoSUV obviously has already made that decision and does not ride metro. "Toll booths seem to be the best solution..., to raise revenue, which could be used for mass transit system subsidies." "Could" is the operative word here. Since the "revenue" will be managed by a private firm, tollpayers will have no control over how much of those revenues ever reach the blacktop or the transit system. Remember, private firms #1 goal is to make a profit; why would they want to subsidize anything that competes with their cash cow? This is half-baked, NoSUV. I expect more from you! "Non-taxpayer incentives are needed to encourage consumers to purchase only SULEV vehicles." While I agree with you in theory, it is not realistic in practice. And hybrid tax breaks are not "Non-taxpayer incentives." Anytime one person receives a tax exemption, another must pay more to make up the deficit. Toll roads are also not the answer, for a different set of reasons. So what is the answer? The best of the worst case solutions is a higher statewide gas tax. This will put the financial responsibility for transportation on the shoulders of users. Finally, "taxes do not necessarily need to be used to encourage consumers to make environmentally sound purchasing decisions." This couldn't be further from the truth! User based taxes are a great incentive to change behaviors, and they effectively motivate the intended target audience. In this example, a statewide gas tax would target local and pass through drivers, the users of VA interstate highways. Local users will be motivated by higher fuel charges to purchase more fuel effecient vehicles, which also happen to be lower emission vehicles. Thanks for the chance to make the argument AGAINST toll roads and hybrid only express lanes. |
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NoSUV
New Slug Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0 |
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raymond - good grief what an idiodic posting!
On your moronic post about metro, please pretend that you've heard of supply and demand. Assuming you have, what happens, raymond, when demand increases? Could it be that, perhaps, supply will increase to meet the demand? Of course, you could argue stupidly that the costs will go up to discriminate against that demand, but come on - pretend you have a brain. Toll booths do not have to be run by private firms. Or, in your world, is that the only option? I never said tax breaks. What part of reading comprehension don't you get? Did you pass high school English? |
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