If you’re like us, then the thought of a leisurely drive down 360 interrupted by a government employee requesting you give them money is a less-than-appealing prospect. Add this to a proposed $22 billion price tag and you’ve got a pretty ugly proposal. This is the opinion expressed repeatedly by Austinites in transportation meetings, with reasons ranging from risks of increased taxes to environmental damage. But this doesn’t mean the plan has died. On Monday night the regional toll road planning board voted to postpone the plan. This adds a little bit more jeopardy to the establishment of the whole toll road proposal, since June 12 is the federal deadline to adopt the plan.
Besides the disapproval of some of the board members, this may have something to do with how the plan lays out funding for the toll roads. One source of funding in the current plan would include the proposed hike in the state gas tax in an attempt to tie it to inflation. House Bill 5 would raise the tax by nearly a penny; which, granted, isn’t a whole lot, but doesn’t sound too attractive considering I just had to take out a loan to fill my tank. The bill seems unlikely to pass, but it’s curious to note that many Representatives see an increased gas tax as unnecessary if toll roads are to go into effect. So we have ourselves a little catch-22. Oh the irony!
House Bill 2481, concerning a proposed emissions reduction program, also includes a portion of the State Highway Fund going towards the cost of the toll road plan. Although the Chairman of the Environmental Regulation Committee, Rep. Dennis Bonnen (who also helped to draft the bill), was reluctant to say whether or not the funds would actually end up going towards toll roads, which have been targeted by a few environmental groups for proposing construction in the sacred Barton Creek Watershed.
Keep in mind the toll roads wouldn’t be finished until around 2030. But still, they suck.

Board Postpones Toll Road Plan [Daily Texan]
House Bill Would Raise State Gas Tax [Chronicle]
Bill would cost highway fund a half billion dollars [Statesman]

You may remember Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. He is probably best known for running for President way back in 2004 (he lost). You may also remember his lack of campaigning in the state of Texas. It makes sense after all, because he probably would have been shot along some highway by a crazed redneck ala Easy Rider. But Senator Kerry has recently figured out that he can book a flight directly to the speck of blue amidst a sea of red that is Travis county.
John Kerry will be speaking on Saturday at the University of Texas’ Recreational Sports Center located on campus at 2100 San Jacinto Blvd (thanks to the University Democrats). The discussion will be a town hall style forum concerning children’s health insurance and his “Kids First” initiative (and recreational sports?) . This shit goes down at 10am sharp (Kerry is never late) and anybody is welcome to attend. However there’s only so many people who can fit in a building so visit the link below to reserve up to four spaces.

RSVP [JohnKerry.com]
Event Details [UDems]
Directions [Google Maps]