Transportation: Increase in gasoline tax is one option

There's no detour around the fact that Texas is facing an acute shortage of money for new roads.

[Eastside Mike]

Some interesting comments from your editorial are:

* "If gasoline tax hikes are considered, they must be accompanied by ironclad methods of ensuring that the money raised goes to transportation infrastructure projects. None of the money should be put into the state's general fund, because it's too easy to 'lose' the money or to have it reallocated to other projects. That cannot be tolerated."

* "Every cent of money raised by a gas tax increase should be used for transportation projects, and every cent of that money should be scrupulously accounted for."

It would have been helpful if your editorial had DEFINED "transportation infrastructure projects."

Are you talking about road construction, OR are you also talking about bus and light rail, plus commuter rail transportation projects?

Since the GAS TAX is paid by VEHICLE USERS, any attempt to allow that money to be used for NON-ROAD PROJECTS would seem a SIN TAX imposed on drivers.

[Aristotle]

Eastside Mike wrote:

Are you talking about road construction, OR are you also talking about bus and light rail, plus commuter rail transportation projects?
Since the GAS TAX is paid by VEHICLE USERS, any attempt to allow that money to be used for NON-ROAD PROJECTS would seem a SIN TAX imposed on drivers.

Exactly right. Let's use state funds to encourage more public transportation. We do not need more roads if we have fewer people driving on them.

[Rey]

Good editorial.

Fix the current roads before you build new ones.

[Eastside Mike]

"Aristotle," please kindly NOTE that in NON-ROAD projects I INCLUDE bus and light rail transit, plus commuter rail transit.

It would reasonably appear those vocal proponents of "public transportation," ought to be able to INFORM our community how it is to pay for these so called "public transportation" ideas.

If your creative idea is to IMPOSE a HIGHER GAS TAX on current vehicle drivers, to fund "public transportation" dreams, that appears wrong!

Frankly, it has the SMELL of imposition of a SIN TAX on vehicles drivers.

[Rey]

They told you up front durng the campaigns that the goal was to impose such a high gas tax that drivers would stop driving and use pubic transportation. Remember Pelosi stated it was her solution for a greener planet.

I dont agree that higher gas taxes is the solution for anything but if they do impose it, then use for ROADS ONLY.

Whatever you do, dont fall for the toll road scam. Check the info yourself, one of the MAIN reason for not terminating toll roads on the East Coast is that they need the tolls to pay the large number of employees and their wages. Toll booth workers can make aqpprox 70,000 a year.

[TRY]

Yep, send our gas tax to Austin for Dallas, Houston and San Antonio to spend on their public transportation projects. We will be the "Goose thats laying the Golden Eggs". Good Idea??? NOT!!!

[FEDUP]

Oh, oh, better hold on to your wallets, here comes another tax increase, and on gasoline, no less!
It's time to either stop driving altogether or downsize your vehicles!!!
These GD politicians know nothing else but raise taxes of all types, what the hell gives?
We should all protest with pitchforks in hand and demand they put a stop to the idea!
What's next a tax on farts?

[MADASHELL]

We are already paying a tax for highway maintenance on our vehicles every year when we renew our permits!
Apparently it's not enough for these greedy politicians!
I'm seriously thinking of running for office to put a stop to all these sneaky rip off tax increases, and getting rid of some that are not necessary! They're only for the reason of ripping us off!
We just can't afford any more tax increases of any kind! You're killing us with you onerous taxes!