I posted on the pitfalls of HOT lanes both here and in the local newspapers.  Sadly, this terrible idea is simply not a partisan issue; hence, you won't hear any state politicians from either party opposing this terrible, quick-fix to our transportation woes.  In fact, if you follow the money from the construction companies building the lanes, they give equally to Rep.s and Dem.s.

Auctioning off our assets to the highest bidder, for a short-term infusion of cash is penny wise, and pound foolish - not to mention the environmental damage and further class-divide these exclusive lanes create.

What bothers me most however, is that we (the taxpayers) are financing these lanes at below market rates, AND that the state has promised to pay a penalty to the operators of the lanes if too many drivers access the lanes for free via carpooling.  It's a lose-lose for everyone except for the spineless politicians who are too chicken to pay for a real transportation system that we all can benefit from.

is what selling our assets means. Trust fund babies are raised to understand that is big-time foolish, and you'd expect our elite class to know better, until you realize that it is not their capital they are squandering, but the capital assets of the general American public (read "commoners"). Like the enormous national debt whose interest the baby boomer President Bush has left for our grandchildren to pay, like being told to go shopping instead of imposing an excess profits tax to finance his Iraq war, like bailing out bankrupt Bear Stearns but threatening to veto any help for bankrupt commoner homeowners---- all of it is of a piece, all of these are examples of the arrogant elitism of the new global Super Class so intent on globalization and personal aggrandizement they summarily reject any accountability and have no consideration for the common good and the social contract. We are in deep, folks.  

These roads will be used for decades to come so it makes NO sense for the local/state governments NOT to invest in them.  Sure, money's tight right now, but they're selling our collective future road system to the lowest bidder.  

In other toll lane news...

I was reading a study that looked at a number of public surveys (US and international) on tolling and taxing and I saw  some interesting results.  Most notably, that the public was generally most supportive of tolling as the means to fund roads, that they generally supported HOT lanes, but that very few supported variable/congestion pricing.  

It needs to be noted that what's happening with this project is a combination of HOT lanes and Express toll lanes.  HOT lanes more appropriately refers to charging cars with less riders than the "HO" requires and is not necessarily tied to the traffic flow.  Express toll lanes refer to keeping the traffic flow open.  Maybe our hybrid should be called HOET lanes?  Um, then again, no.  Well, regardless of what we call them, let's be clear that we're not dealing exclusively with HOT lanes.

Back to the point of surveys: people surveyed did not like the idea of variable rates.  They did like (or more so than other options) the idea of fixed rates for tolls.  Our system: variable rates.

I wonder if any of our leaders took the time to look at such studies and surveys.  Based on the deal we've been stuck with, I'd guess no.

HOT lanes are such a wrong-headed idea.  This idea that getting the private markets into operating public infrastructure will "create efficiencies" (coded words these days for building private profit regressively on the backs of working people), especially one as critical and core and ROADS, is absolutely a bad idea.

Build lanes with taxpayer monies and taxpayers should be able to use them.  NO ONE should be profiting from public infrastructure operation that is not meant to generate profit, but to SERVE a core public interest that must exist for innovation and capital investments in the area that really PRODUCE something to generate actual wealth.

HOT lanes are not too hot, in my book.

of government (after protection of the local village, of course) has always been to provide roads, the idea being that secure and easy transportation creates trade and commerce to the benefit of all, not to mention making defense of the village easier. Returning to the days of robber barons throwing chains across rivers or lowering pikes across roads to collect "fees" for using the river or road is another one of those dumb feudalistic ideas of rightwing ideologues. It is only going to get worse unless we the people get on our hindlegs and force a halt.

As much as I'd like to pin the blame on Republicans, the fact is that both parties are responsible for the fiasco that is about to happen.

Follow the money.  Check VPAP.

You will find major contributions to Kaine ($10,000) and Connolly ($6,400), as well as Janet Howell ($1,250), Sharon Bulova ($1,200), and lots of other Dems including David Bulova, Jim Scott, Bob Hull, Vivian Watts, etc. A veritable cast of thousands (well, maybe dozens). $242,685 total, strategically spread around.

We need to get our own house in order before placing blame on the Republicans.