Dallas area officials lean on Sen KB Hutch very gently - on toll lanes

Dallas area officials intervened quickly this week to neutralize the potential danger to their huge toll financing plans from the anti-toll bills of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Repub Tx). They wrote to her (see NCTCOG-KBH) with all the customary flattery, thanking her for her "continued outstanding leadership" etc. The letter however makes clear that the region is fully committed to "innovative finance" (read tolls) to fill a $59b projected "gap" between needs and prospective tax funds through 2030. It notes many of these are on interstate highways targeted for new toll bans by Hutchinson and other politicians.

It copies the senator their famous 2030 map of the Dallas region's future highways dominated by additions as toll projects - mostly existing freeways with toll managed lanes added.

The letter signed by Oscar Trevino, chair of the Regional Transportation Council of NCTCOG says they feel the senator's approach is consistent with RTC policy and "hope you will continue to support this (NCTCOG) policy."

The letter summarizes RTC policy for the senator as:

(1) no conversion of existing free lanes to tolling

(2) all new construction on new right-of-way to be evaluated for toll financing

(3) new lanes on on current highways to be evaluated for toll management

It says: "we believe the RTC's position is consistent with your position not to convert highways to toll roads but we request that you continue working with us to maintain flexibility to use (toll) managed lanes when reconstructing highways."

The letter says these managed toll lanes are planned "in a variety of corridors some of which are located on the interstate system." They plan to maintain at least the existing number of free lanes as toll lanes are added.

Managed lanes policy being adopted

The NCTCOG happens to be deeply involved in developing a detailed regional policy on its managed lanes at the very same time the anti-toll bills could put those plans in jeopardy. And its policy makes clear that tolling with dynamic pricing is a tool not just for raising money but for managing traffic by preventing overload.

The governing body has just approved a ten point policy (download here) which includes:

- fixed toll schedule adjusted monthly for first six months with cap of 75c/mile (47c/km), dynamic pricing thereafter

- in dynamic pricing phase a soft cap will be established with greater toll rates allowed on temporary basis

- no tolls for transit vehicles

- trucks to pay a higher rate than cars (except in LBJ tunnels where not allowed)

- HOV2+ and vanpools will pay full car tolls in offpeak, half toll in peak (0630-0930, 1500-1830 weekdays)

- HOV and vanpool discount to end when are meets air quality standards

- dynamic pricing to be operated to manage minimum average corridor speeds of 80km/hr (50mph)

The policy envisages toll concessions (CDAs in Texan) to raise funds for the toll managed lanes.

CORRECTION: The senator is Hutchison, not Hutchinson, a  helpful reader pointed out.

TOLLROADSnews 2007-09-14