The Oregonian
The Oregon Transportation Commission gave the go-ahead Wednesday for the state to negotiate with an Australian company to develop three private toll roads in the Portland area.
The approval at a meeting in Medford means officials and the Macquarie Infrastructure Group will attempt to work out a "predevelopment" agreement to define if they are feasible.
The projects include a Newberg Dundee bypass, widening the south portion of Interstate 205 and a new highway from I-205 towards Damascus.
Estimated costs of about $1 billion.
First question that I have is, why do we need toll roads in the first place? I thought that is what our tax dollars, gasoline taxes and other road fees were supposed to pay for.
Second, if they are going to do a project like this, isn't there a company based out of Portland or somewhere in Oregon that could do this to keep the money local?
Third, since it affects Portland, why are these guys not holding their meetings in Portland instead of Medford? I would think that the people of Portland would kind of like a say in this matter.
Finally, once they get a few toll roads established, you can bet that they will start popping up like mushrooms.
2 comments:
This sounds like another way to screw taxpayers. Did you notice the final paragraph in the article? "The commission is 'concerned that the taxpayer get the most benefit for every dollar spent," he said. "They will be cautious." Private venture, public money, get the picture?
yea, I think that your right. some how we always get it in the end.
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