Or, on a scale of 10, 45 percent of us give toll roads a grade of 4 or less and nearly a quarter of us give it a zero. That's the result of a survey taken by the Texas Lyceum think tank, which looked at Texans' attitudes toward building and paying for new highways. And what do we like even less? Tolling existing roads, where opposition increased to 69 percent, including 53 percent who "strongly" oppose tolls on existing highways. Think tolls on LBJ to pay for its upkeep and maintenance, and you'll get the idea.
This should not be news to anyone who drives or reads our blog. Traffic- and toll-related items are some of our most popular posts, and hardly anyone is in favor of new toll roads or tolling existing roads. (Which makes me wonder: Can re-do last fall's Trinity vote?)
The opposition to tolls, though, is apparently news to many of our elected officials, led by Gov. Minority, who see toll roads as the panacea to Texas' highway woes. Ah, but that's why we have elections, don't we?
One other note: More than three-quarters of those surveyed said they would support regional rail systems connecting adjacent cities like Dallas and Fort Worth or Austin and San Antonio.
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