detolling

Anti-toll Democrats in Japan who got into government August 2009 promising free roads are finding that detolling is difficult. Most of Japan's expressways were built as tollroads, initially government-owned, later privatized as regulated investor owned utilities. So to end tolls the government has to pay massive compensation to the toll companies.

Japan's Democrat Party, soon to become the government following a sweeping election victory, are rapidly retreating from their detolling campaign theme. A prominent member of the new governing party Mabuchi Sumio has said the plan for nation's expressways is to do traffic modeling of all segments.

A little history is prompted by this nice picture of "a bridge on the Delaware River" we found on the web by a local photographer. It is confirmed by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission as their Washington Crossing Bridge 8 miles (13km) upstream of Trenton.

Adam Smith is turning in his grave. Pandering politicians in his native Scotland have sadly put an end - for now - to tolling on two of the country's big bridges. There are a couple of veteran toll crews available, and like Scots down the ages, they'll travel to the far reaches of the world for new opportunities. Talent hunters in South Africa, India, Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Chile, and the US pay attention.