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Munchmasterman · 09-11-2012, 03:54 AM

One of the nice things about the toll roads that circle Austin is the fact that few people use them. Too far from town to be viable alternatives to IH35, MoPac or 71, another reason for nonuse is the fact they were built with public money. They were then sold to a Spanish company. It's easy to protest because of the distance.
But for $3 you can hop on and haul ass. I've had the car doing sub 23 second miles.

The new 85 mph portion will have more traffic than the Austin portion at first. After a while a lot of the truck traffic will go East of Austin.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/07...?iref=obinsite

Guest123018-4 · 09-11-2012, 05:51 AM

Are you sure about your statement that they were built with public money?
I would like to know how much public as in State tax dollars were spent to build that toll road.
My understanding is that the state did not have the funds to build it so a private company stepped in a built the roads.The company then payus the state a concession for the right to collect tolls.
The toll road operator is paying the state a bonus on 100 million just for the speed limit to be 85 according to your link and would have been less had it been set at 80.

From what I have seen and know about public funded roads; it takse a long time to build because of the way they fund. Toll roads can be built very quickly because they are not funded with tax dollars but from the sales of bonds.

Other than the eminent domain issue, toll roads are a great way of constructiing traffic allieviating roads. If you dont want to pay the tax, dont use them.

JD Barleycorn · 09-11-2012, 12:43 PM

I have been lobbying for over 20 years for a high speed, privately funded, elevated, coast to coast highway. You have to pay a fee, your car has to qualify, and the speed is unlimited. Elevated to reduce the land foot print making it easier to acquire the property rights. Limited access to public roads. Qualification is more than the mechanical worthiness of your vehicle, it is also your skills and driving record, and having the insurance to cover any accident you may be responsible for. Removal of breakdowns will be quick and less than gentle.

CJ7 · 09-11-2012, 12:55 PM

The Austinbahn ... I like it.

Munchmasterman · 09-11-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The2Dogs

Are you sure about your statement that they were built with public money?
I would like to know how much public as in State tax dollars were spent to build that toll road.
My understanding is that the state did not have the funds to build it so a private company stepped in a built the roads.The company then payus the state a concession for the right to collect tolls.
The toll road operator is paying the state a bonus on 100 million just for the speed limit to be 85 according to your link and would have been less had it been set at 80.

From what I have seen and know about public funded roads; it takse a long time to build because of the way they fund. Toll roads can be built very quickly because they are not funded with tax dollars but from the sales of bonds.

Other than the eminent domain issue, toll roads are a great way of constructiing traffic allieviating roads. If you dont want to pay the tax, dont use them.

They were 90-95% complete when they were sold. I'm only refering to the highway near Austin. The chunks in the link were paid for with private money.

And it looks like selling them was the right thing to do. They got top dollar, revenues plunged (People were pissed and wouldn't drive on them; and oh yeah. They didn't go any place and taking them added 20 miles to the Georgetown-Buda stretch.

LovingKayla · 09-11-2012, 01:07 PM

Oh that road is kick ass. I've only seen the 80 sign but man it's a great ride. Bypass Austin all together!!!

Munchmasterman · 09-11-2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ7

The Austinbahn ... I like it.

Great road for high speed. Limited LE, it's like driving up 15 (?) along the Rockies (OK not quite but the road is built on a flat geological formation that is split from the hill country by Balcones Fault)

Munchmasterman · 09-11-2012, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LovingKayla

Oh that road is kick ass. I've only seen the 80 sign but man it's a great ride. Bypass Austin all together!!!

Rest area sex?

CJ7 · 09-11-2012, 01:19 PM

the cars that would be really fun to drive on a stretch like that hit 85 in 2nd gear ...

but still ...........

http://media.il.edmunds-media.com/la..._30911_717.jpg

Guest032516 · 09-11-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchmasterman

But for $3 you can hop on and haul ass. I've had the car doing sub 23 second miles.

You've driven in excess of 156 MPH on a public road?

CJ7 · 09-11-2012, 02:22 PM

130 is the best Ive ever done

look on the bright side, not very many people can catch you and hit you if youre doing 130 orr 156

Guest123018-4 · 09-11-2012, 05:53 PM

I use it every time I go from Houston to Georgetyown/Round Rock.
Austin's freeways suck. All those people that moved there from someplace else bitch about all the people that moved there from someplace else.
I laugh my ass off at those idiots. I remember when there were a little less than 200,000 there.
They even tried to stop developers from building more. Like. I am the last one to be allowed here now shut the door so nobody else can fuck it up worse than I did.
You get what you deserve.

icuminpeace · 09-11-2012, 11:40 PM

My only question on toll roads is that if they're private (operated by a private company), why the hell are the public safety officers writing speeding tickets? I once got rear ended by an uninsured idiot on a road inside a mall and the cops wouldn't ticket him because it happened on private property. Well, the idiot was able to drive away, still uninsured, and without a ticket on public roads. Ever since I don't agree with cops ticketing on privatized toll roads.

Munchmasterman · 09-12-2012, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExNYer

You've driven in excess of 156 MPH on a public road?

21.17 seconds to be exact.

Munchmasterman · 09-12-2012, 01:50 AM

[QUOTE=The2Dogs;3178423] I remember when there were a little less than 200,000 there.There were about 175,000 when I moved here.
They even tried to stop developers from building more. Like. I am the last one to be allowed here now shut the door so nobody else can fuck it up worse than I did.
You get what you deserve. Something like that. You get what the group not in power forces on you for a "compromise". They would rather nothing be done. Sometimes you just say "fuck-em" and do what you can.[/QUOTE]

Austin is built in the hills and in a river valley. There only so many places for the roads. It's not on a flat coastal plain like Houston.

PS Houston's freeways might be better than Austin's but that just means you have 16 lane wide parking lots at 5:30.
You have 4 times the freeways but 7 times the population.

So if you say that's better.........