Here’s an article on all the highway construction and resulting toll lanes in DFW by Michael A. Lindenberger of the Dallas Morning News. The article goes a long way in describing many of the ongoing highway construction projects in the DFW Area including the DFW Connector in Grapevine. The headline is the most telling, “N. Texas highway improvements come with a toll: Expect construction snarls for 5 years, stiff tolls after that.” And he is absolutely right. Most of the new lanes and roadways come with tolls that will work to tax area residents for use of the roadways.
Our opinion before was that this is a terrible idea. And it still is for the state government. It won’t work. We have said it before in this earlier article on the DFW Connector. But it is not a terrible idea for the average commuter. In fact, it probably helps the average commuter in the long run. We will explain.
The problem with politicians is that they do not think ahead. They think in the past, often years in the past. We could go on and on about why they do this, but that should probably be saved for another article.
What do toll roads do? They provide residents an incentive not to drive. It is that simple. When you have a cost (or an impediment) to do something, most rational people will look for other, cheaper alternatives.
The fact is that the world is changing. AND FAST.
The need to drive into an office and work at a desk is diminishing quickly. Technology makes it possible for most people to do their work from a beach in Mexico or a ski slope in Whistler BC rather than in an office in downtown Dallas or Fort Worth. Adding toll lanes will help speed up the process of moving work out of traditional offices. Toll lanes will help speed up the process of eliminating the daily commute.
Because of this, GrapevineTxOnline is now all for toll lanes. We say, make all roads toll lanes. Provide enough incentive for people to work and live elsewhere and they will. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but the time is coming very soon. The technology is already here in the form of high speed internet, mobile phones, live meetings, and video conferencing.
We will soon live in a world where the traditional office is obsolete. After all, that is the direction we are being pushed.
How many of you have a job where 95% of your work (or better) could be done from home?
Bring on the toll lanes. We welcome them.
Are you serious? This makes no sense to me. Sure I would work from home if I could but I don’t get to make that choice. My employer does. With the economy the way it is I am lucky to have a job and when this project is completed it looks like I am going to have to leave earlier for work because there is no way I am paying unless they close all free lanes. Even if they do that I will attempt to find a way around. There is no good public transit system here either, so I just end up feeling frustrated. Don’t I pay enough in taxes. I am barely making it and I am stuck where I am. Moving closer to work is not an option because it is more expensive there. Does adding toll roads increase my pay – heck no! I don’t want to be a burden on the environment but like I said I don’t get to choose. How can you say this is a good idea. Every little bit counts for me and my family – I have cut back everywhere I can. I am at a loss as to how these toll projects keep getting pushed through. Give me a realistic alternative and I will take it.
I was happy to see construction because traffic always backs up there. Now I am frustrated because relief is not coming for everyone. Just everyone that can afford to pay. When does the working class man get a break? I am not looking for charity, but I don’t want to be punished for having to drive to work either.