CNN story on highway giveaways

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   I caught a story on Lou Dobbs show last night about private industry taking over the US highway infrastructure. It was very well done and touched on many of the issues we have discussed. They mentioned the extreme secrecy of the deals and the fact that after the first 20 years on a 60 year contract, the projects are basically pure profit. They mentioned Rep Defazio (sp?) and his efforts to vastly slow down the process around the country until Congress and the population has a better idea of how to deal with it, before the entire US is sold.

	Another interesting comment that I hadn't read before was national security concerns should a country such as China decide to start controlling our highways and bridges.

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Bob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: CNN story on highway giveaways Posted: 09 Oct 2007 at 8:41am
	I caught a story on Lou Dobbs show last night about private industry taking over the US highway infrastructure. It was very well done and touched on many of the issues we have discussed. They mentioned the extreme secrecy of the deals and the fact that after the first 20 years on a 60 year contract, the projects are basically pure profit. They mentioned Rep Defazio (sp?) and his efforts to vastly slow down the process around the country until Congress and the population has a better idea of how to deal with it, before the entire US is sold. Another interesting comment that I hadn't read before was national security concerns should a country such as China decide to start controlling our highways and bridges.

CatHerder Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote CatHerder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Oct 2007 at 9:57am
	http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/highwaymen.html

n/a Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote n/a Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Oct 2007 at 2:29pm
	And what happens when the highway contractor fails to be responsive to the needs of the people using the roads? Example: there is NO CAP ON TOLL RATES! Flour/Transurban can raise the tolls as to guarantee profits, disregarding any traffic flow mumbo-jumbo, and maximizing revenues at the expense of users. What happens when the contractor wants to exploit their monopoly on the express lanes? For example: if there is a big sporting/concert event in DC and F/T decides to keep the tolls at "peak-use" rate so they can rob those who drive in to see the event. And what happens when they decide to exert unfair political influence? For example: if there is a political event/protest in DC that may contradict the business or political interests of Flour/Transurban (or an investor) and will draw thousands of protestors. F/T could raise the tolls to discourage toll lane use causing traffic jams, etc. effectively disrupting democratic processes! There is no accountability here! This is the 21st century definition of HIGHWAY ROBBERY!

Bob Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bob Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Oct 2007 at 2:56pm
	And what if the wealthy influential toll payers and companies want the HOT lanes to flow at 65 instead of 50 on weekends for example. Then F/T jacks the rates, still makes megabucks, and totally jams the regular lanes. One would think that profits would be higher in the more crowded 50 mph scenario with lower rates, but it would take a computer program to really know. It could definitely be in their financial interest to keep tolls very high.

AveMaria Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote AveMaria Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 12:02pm
	More fat to chew on: VDOT's cancellation of HOV restrictions to ease massive traffic congestion in the regular lanes will be a THING OF THE PAST b/c if executed (per the existing contract) they'd have to reimburse F/T of possible revenue loss. Snow/ice days (which are ingredients for high(er) accident activity) will be even more of a nightmare.