Paying tolls online

[UK]

They did when I rec'd it in the mail.

[Diddy]

How much does the actual toll collection infrastructure cost?
.

i doubt much, a few booths and some min wage employees. Cant take long to recover that.

[jim]

How much does the actual toll collection infrastructure cost?

Wouldn't it be much much cheaper to tax for those roads some other way, without the fancy IPASS and toll collection infrastructure?

But no, there are so many fat cat jobs and contracts with the tollway, even after they cleaned some house a couple of years back.

At 50 cents to a buck a pop, that's alot of cash flowing through those expensive machines. Lots.

[Arthur Dent]

Actually, I believe Indiana was losing money on some of it's toll roads for years because of the collection costs. So, they sold them to a private interest, a terrible idea IMO. Why not just eliminate the toll and fund roads on gas tax which is also basically a user fee?

[jim]

Actually, I believe Indiana was losing money on some of it's toll roads for years because of the collection costs. So, they sold them to a private interest, a terrible idea IMO. Why not just eliminate the toll and fund roads on gas tax which is also basically a user fee?

Because Illinois has already raised gas taxes to the limit. Anymore and there would be a revolt.

I'm getting riled up for another rant...

[Arthur Dent]

Actually, I believe Indiana was losing money on some of it's toll roads for years because of the collection costs. So, they sold them to a private interest, a terrible idea IMO. Why not just eliminate the toll and fund roads on gas tax which is also basically a user fee?

Because Illinois has already raised gas taxes to the limit. Anymore and there would be a revolt.

I'm getting riled up for another rant...

It wouldn't take much if the tolls are only collecting $13-$17 million a year as that article AJ posted said. I'm sure the Illinois DOT road budget is at least a billion dollars.

[UK]

Actually, I believe Indiana was losing money on some of it's toll roads for years because of the collection costs. So, they sold them to a private interest, a terrible idea IMO. Why not just eliminate the toll and fund roads on gas tax which is also basically a user fee?

Because Illinois has already raised gas taxes to the limit. Anymore and there would be a revolt.

I'm getting riled up for another rant...

They're running short on the Summer blend of gasoline and will have to wait a few weeks for the Winter blend, whatever that crap means. You're 100% correct about IL and being unable to tax more on gas.

[greenback44]

Actually, I believe Indiana was losing money on some of it's toll roads for years because of the collection costs. So, they sold them to a private interest, a terrible idea IMO. Why not just eliminate the toll and fund roads on gas tax which is also basically a user fee?

Because Illinois has already raised gas taxes to the limit. Anymore and there would be a revolt.

I'm hoping there is a revolt. The way this country subsidizes the automobile has led to an inefficient transportation system.

[AJ]

Here is some interesting reading on an Illinois Tollway analysis done in 1999:

http://www.heartland.org/archives/studies/samuel-ps.pdf

[Arthur Dent]

I'm hoping there is a revolt. The way this country subsidizes the automobile has led to an inefficient transportation system.

Sure, but what are the rebels going to try and get?