CRTPO Representatives – Please Resolve to Delay the Toll Roads in Lake Norman
Dear CRTPO Representative,
Who Owns This Divisive I77 Non-Solution?
The Governor is pointing his finger at you – the CRTPO – and saying you as the representatives of the Charlotte region asked for the P3 HOT lane solution being imposed on Lake Norman and other managed lane concepts in the Charlotte region (He didn’t mention that he was the Mayor who presided over the beginning of this fiasco!). He and others including Sen. Joel Ford say “we” are getting what “we” wanted. I would agree with this argument if it wasn’t so wrong headed and didn’t have such serious ramifications for our future.
The Charlotte representatives pretty much run the MPO. This is reasonable since Charlotte represents the lion’s share of the region. But with such power comes great responsibility. Each of the CRTPO representatives has a pat time job with a full time responsibility to make sure the CRTPO exercises its power responsibly. I respect all of you in your effort to take this beautiful city into the future and ensure all citizens are treated fairly. I do not agree with where you have allowed us to go with the P3 HOT lanes in our northern suburbs.
Revisionist History?
When we started down this path almost a decade ago trying to figure a way to address growth and infrastructure needs in our region, you made decisions based on a vision of a modern city with transit corridors and managed growth. You also did it on a shoestring budget that wasn’t enough to do transit AND roads very well.
Let’s be honest about the role of transit in our region and how it relates to our current problem. Transit moves less than 5% of our citizens in cities like Charlotte. Transit is about economic development – transit DOES NOT address congestion(numerous studies say so). Our roads move the other 95% plus of commuters not to mention discretionary travel.
Even though transit does not address our immediate problem of congestion, we were able to get some help with the transit funding and made some sacrifices for the future resulting in reduced funding for our more efficient roads that DO address congestion. Raleigh said OK and distributed the limited funds accordingly. Our congestion problem continued to grow.
The national infrastructure funding crisis meant there were very few options left to address our infrastructure needs. Raleigh looked at us and said you made your decision on how to spend your transit sales tax and road money so here is what is left for you to consider for funding your roads. They offered that support via a “managed lanes” concept. It is a concept whereby you can stretch your limited road dollars. Build toll roads that generate money and then use that money or the money saved to build other roads. This concept was supported by think tanks like the Reason Foundation (specifically Robert Poole who is credited as the father of the managed lanes concept) so it must be a reasonable solution that might work right? The MUMPO/CRTPO said OK, let’s try that. And so we started down that slippery slope. (The only other MPO considering tolling/managed lanes is Raleigh. As best as I can tell, all other MPO’s have not needed it nor will they ever “invite” it based on what they see happening here.)
The CRTPO has moved forward with the managed lane concept and ignored those who have offered evidence of the consequences and adverse impact to our region. This concept marginally works in LA, Miami, or Washington DC as a path thru the congestion for those able to afford it. It does not solve congestion. It further divides our community in a way that clearly favors the “haves” over the “have-nots”. Even with that, the “haves” still have to navigate the congested secondary roads.
The highly respected former UNCC Professor and transposition expert, David Hartgen, said the I77 P3 HOT lane is the wrong application of this managed lane concept. He specifically said it would damage Charlotte’s northern suburbs. I think it will damage all of Charlotte. I believe many of you understand that argument but do not know how to back out of this without having to “eat crow” or upset the NC DOT (they work for you remember).
Here Is Why You Should Vote To Reverse the Managed Lane Concept
The track record for these P3 managed lane projects has emerged and is not what you were “sold”. Similar privatized road projects that have been open for several years or longer have a bad record with most having gone thru bankruptcy or restructuring. The near junk bond status of the I77 project forebodes a likely failure. So what if it fails? We will have about $438 million tax payer dollars in this project if it fails ($249 million if it “succeeds”) plus a regional commitment to a tolling concept that does not solve our congestion problem and makes us less attractive for economic development than South Carolina. The cost of building a non-tolled solution from Uptown to exit 36 was estimated to cost $450 million by the NC DOT. The construction cost is a breakeven while the long term costs overwhelmingly favor general purpose lanes. (see attached Washington Post article on P3’s)
Economic Competiveness is hurt by this concept. Look at Rock Hill and South Carolina. They tried tolls and they failed. They now have voted to raise revenue thru an increased gas tax. The “Pennies For Progress” sales tax is also a huge success. They are now reaping the rewards of our Charlotte Douglas airport and the quality infrastructure they have built in SC. We did not get Volvo for various reasons but Volvo is on record for opposing tolls. What other businesses will look at Charlotte and say tolls? Sorry, we are going elsewhere.
Restore Fairness and Trust in government. I must tell you that our regional governments and representatives probably have a lower rating than Congress! Those of us in Lake Norman are overwhelmingly opposed to this “non-solution” and we feel our opinion and region is being robbed by a Charlotte-centric dictatorship and State that is insensitive to our community. Media surveys show over 90% opposed. We have invested in our homes, businesses and social fabric and this project will seriously threaten what we have built. Not to mention that we pay $18 million a year in user fees to drive on a road that only costs $1million to maintain. That continued subsidy does not change with the tolls.
Infrastructure Funding. Nothing like a good crisis in a democracy to get people to do the right thing! Washington is close to a decision on how to address funding. The State is waiting to see what they do but there is hope that Rep. Torbett’s HB 927 may lead the State instead of follow the Feds. HB 927 bill is written to diversify infrastructure revenue resources for the long term and may raise several hundred million more dollars a year. The other thing the State did recently was adjust the gas tax computation which in the long run will provide additional revenue. Lastly, Gov. McCrory is trying to get $1.4 billion for roads. It is all politics but politics can work for the I77 corridor if the CRTPO gets behind it.
It is the Eleventh Hour and We Have Been Given Reasons to Reverse Course.
On one hand we now know the truth about the P3 managed lanes and how they will adversely affect us. On the other hand we know we are much closer to fair funding that will allow us to avoid tolling. It is up to you to take these new realities into account. Stop this project before we slip over the edge into a hole that we can’t afford to be in nor can we afford to exit. Vote to request a pause to reassess our course before the NC DOT signs the Financial Close.
Respectfully,
Vince Winegardner
Northcross Master Association President
Huntersville, NC
Support for views expressed here.
David Hartgen of the Hartgen Group – http://www.hartgengroup.net/project.shtml
http://blogs.reuters.com/muniland/2013/01/19/are-private-toll-roads-a-losing-idea/
http://usa.streetsblog.org/2014/11/19/how-macquarie-makes-money-by-losing-money-on-toll-roads/
http://usa.streetsblog.org/2014/11/20/the-great-traffic-projection-swindle/
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