Briefs

Texas DOT has a contract to buy the bankrupt Camino-Colombia Toll Road (CCTR) in Laredo TX for $20m from John Hancock Life Insurance. Texas Transportation Commission approved the deal May 27. TxDOT intends to maintain the CCTR as a tollroad but probably at reduced tolls, an official said.

Economic researchers Anna Matas and Jose Luis Raymond report toll elasticity of demand on toll motorways in Spain as ranging between -0.21 and -0.83 using data 1980-1998. Not surprising a major factor in elasticity is the quality and directness of competing free roads. Another factor producing differences is the importance of tourist traffic (very demand inelastic). The larger the negative elasticity number the larger the diversion attributed to the toll. Anna Matas and Jose Luis Raymond, "Demand Elasticity on Tolled Motorways," Journal of Transportation and Statistics, Vol6 #2/3

The reality is that smart growth (compact transit-oriented city) objectives cannot be achieved without dismantling those portions of urban areas outside the core, and forcing people and businesses inside. Among the world's leaders and planners, only Nicolae Ceaucesceau, the late dictator of Romania put into practice the urban resettlement policies that smart growth would require. For example, myopic urban

Delaware One (DE-1) gets open road electronic tolling (ORT) at its mainline toll plaza near Dover, the state capital this week. The highway speed tolling was promised for Memorial Day and Delaware DOT says they will deliver May 27. The project provides for 2x2 lanes down the middle and no reduction in the highway's posted speed limit of 65mph there for vehicles with E-ZPass transponders. Cash collection is off to each side behind barriers. The project cost $7.7m.

An advisory panel voted 8 to 3 Friday in favor of Virginia proceeding to negotiate with Fluor Corp to add four toll lanes to the Washington Beltway (I-495) in northern Virginia. Fluor is proposing to invest about $700m on the 21km (13mi) project in return for toll rights. The vote came at the end of a three-hour meeting with some of those voting both for and against complaining that some of their questions haven't been answered. (Ah for perfect foresight!)