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From: jrc@ritcv.UUCP (James R Carbin)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: L.A.: Density and Weather
Message-ID: <646@ritcv.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 9-Oct-83 15:06:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: ritcv.646
Posted: Sun Oct  9 15:06:03 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Oct-83 09:06:00 EDT
References: vortex.160
Lines: 41


--LW-- tells us Easterners to get rid of our barbaric toll booths.

     Now I don't consider myself to be either pro-east, prod-middle, pro-
west, pro-south, or anyplace else, but perhaps unknown to --LW--   he has
hit upon a very soor spot.

     Why do so many of the Interstate Highways in the east charge tolls?

     Roads like the N.Y.S. Thruway were designed and built prior to the
enactment of the Federal Interstate Highway Legislation in the 50's.  The resi-
dents of New York agreed to pay tolls (along of course with visitors to N.Y.)
in order to gain a modern limited access highway from just north of N.Y.C.
north to Albany, west to Syracuse, Rochester,  and Buffalo, and then southwest
to the Pennsylvania border.  Upon passage of the Federal Interstate Legislation
New Yorkers found themselves screwed.  Any existing highways in the Interstate
System would be paid for by whatever means they had originally been financed.
Only new additions to the system (over 90% of it) would be paid for out of the
funds allocated for Interstate construction.  There would (and has not been)
any reimbursement.  Were we (New Yorkers - global sense - the state) mad.
You're damn right.  If we had dragged our feet like so many states, the
Feds would have paid for our Thruway (Interstate 90 & 89), but instead we ended
up paying for our N.Y.S. Thruway and helping to pay for all of the new additions
to the Interstate System both in our state as well as in all the other states.
Real fair!  (But who said life was fair.)
     Ironically, there are two relatively short sections of the Thruway that
are toll free - around Buffalo, and from Albany to a Mass. Pike connection.
These were constructed after the passage of the Federal Legislation.
     I don't know for sure which of the limited access roads in the Northeast
were built under similar conditions, but I know that there are others in other
states.  As I remember, one of the conditions for Federal funds would be that
the road be toll free, but I would not stake my life on this fact.
     While New Yorkers question why we have had to pay tolls on the N.Y.S.
thruway for so many years (about 30 - it seems like it would be paid for by
now), recognize that this is just one example of how big government with its
infinite wisdom can end of screwing those who have the foresight to take
the initiative.  

as ever,

j.r.