First NC Toll road...BOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[CameronBornAndBred]

And from the map I don't see the point of it. It looks like a billion dollar from Durham to the sticks.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5777906/

[Lavabe]

And from the map I don't see the point of it. It looks like a billion dollar from Durham to the sticks.
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5777906/

So much for my Southern Women comment about West Virginia NOT being a southern state because it had a toll road.

And before Wilson says it, yes, Atlanta has a toll road, but there's serious talk about getting rid of the toll.

[DukeUsul]

I see the need for the road, not necessarily for the toll.

There are large amounts of traffic that go up/down Hwy 55 from RTP into Cary, Apex and Holly Springs. As Cary and Apex build up between 55 and 751 (see Cary Park, Amberley, etc.) there is a huge amount of traffic that is now driving down the single lane backroads between 55 and 751 (I know I did when I used to live down there). It's only going to get worse. So continuing the Western Wake Expwy down to HS makes a ton of sense.

Also, the extension of 147 through RTP and down to 540 also makes sense. I can't tell you how often I used to drive from Cary up to Durham to come to games or Elmo's and the major hassle of hitting all the traffic lights in RTP on 55, 54, Davis Dr, Alexander was enough to drive a man mad. And you should see the lineup of cars coming off of the Durham Freeway and onto Alexander to head south to turn left onto 55. It's crazy at rush hour.

Now I don't agree that it should be a toll road. Why does Northern Wake Co. get their section of 540 toll-free but Western Wake has to bear the costs all by themselves?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I see the need for the road, not necessarily for the toll.

There are large amounts of traffic that go up/down Hwy 55 from RTP into Cary, Apex and Holly Springs. As Cary and Apex build up between 55 and 751 (see Cary Park, Amberley, etc.) there is a huge amount of traffic that is now driving down the single lane backroads between 55 and 751 (I know I did when I used to live down there). It's only going to get worse. So continuing the Western Wake Expwy down to HS makes a ton of sense.

Also, the extension of 147 through RTP and down to 540 also makes sense. I can't tell you how often I used to drive from Cary up to Durham to come to games or Elmo's and the major hassle of hitting all the traffic lights in RTP on 55, 54, Davis Dr, Alexander was enough to drive a man mad. And you should see the lineup of cars coming off of the Durham Freeway and onto Alexander to head south to turn left onto 55. It's crazy at rush hour.

Now I don't agree that it should be a toll road. Why does Northern Wake Co. get their section of 540 toll-free but Western Wake has to bear the costs all by themselves?

I agree with DukeUsul as to the need for the road(s), but disagree with booing the toll. It gets the roads built so much sooner than if they were completely tax payer funded, that the folks who will use the roads will gladly pay the toll in trade for the time saved in using them.

And to cite another southern state that has a toll road - South Carolina (and Virginia, too, but I digress from my story). Anyone who goes to Hilton Head Island, and I do every year, loves the Cross Island Parkway, which goes from just on the island to the toe, near Sea Pines Plantation (not exactly on either end, but close enough). It is about 5 miles long, and cuts off up to 25 minutes (and 8 miles) of bumper to bumper traffic compared to driving 278 Business, the "old" way to go. The toll had been $1.00 each way, but this year (June) it was up to $1.25. I "only" drove the bypass 6 or 8 times during my week on the island (I like to play golf "off island", plus the Sam's Club and Wal-Mart and some good restaurants are near the northern/western end of the bypass, and I stay at the southern/eastern end of the road). There is also a section of toll road in the western part of SC, I think sparring off of I-20 towards Greeneville. In Virginia, there is a short toll road in Richmond, I think it goes cross town/east-west, but I've never taken it.

So I say "Yay!" to the new toll roads. And I read that there will not be toll booths - you'll either have a transponder (please be part of the EasyPass system) or you will be billed after the fact by video cameras seeing your license plate (like the red light cameras do).

[CameronBornAndBred]

The state is also looking at making I-95 a toll road.
http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/53078157.html

[wilson]

The state is also looking at making I-95 a toll road.
http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/53078157.html

...of all the ones they could pick. I've always felt like they should pay me to get on that shithole of a road,

[DukeUsul]

I'm not against toll roads in general. It just really grinds my gears that they've been building the outer loop around Raleigh, and everyone in Northern Wake gets to ride for free, but those in Western Wake will pay a toll.... and everyone's taxes went in to pay for the Northern Wake part.

I'm curious about I-95. It would seem to me that a lot of that traffic is passing through the state. I don't know that for sure. That seems to me a better place to put a toll... collect some road revenue from out-of-staters that don't pay taxes here (like that stupid toll on I-95 in Delaware that always backs up - I'm sure the number of Delawarians who go through that tool is virtually zero).

[devildeac]

I'm not against toll roads in general. It just really grinds my gears that they've been building the outer loop around Raleigh, and everyone in Northern Wake gets to ride for free, but those in Western Wake will pay a toll.... and everyone's taxes went in to pay for the Northern Wake part.

I'm curious about I-95. It would seem to me that a lot of that traffic is passing through the state. I don't know that for sure. That seems to me a better place to put a toll... collect some road revenue from out-of-staters that don't pay taxes here (like that stupid toll on I-95 in Delaware that always backs up - I'm sure the number of Delawarians who go through that tool is virtually zero).

Word. I'd love to see a $10 toll booth at the northern and southern ends of NC on I-95 as I paid plenty of tolls in Virginia, Garyland and Delaware as I headed up and down that corridor for many years between NC and NJ and Georgia and NJ. Let thems that uses the road pay for its LONG overdue repairs AND widening. Why do you think it's such a $hithole, wilson? (asked rhetorically, of course)

[devildeac]

I'm not against toll roads in general. It just really grinds my gears that they've been building the outer loop around Raleigh, and everyone in Northern Wake gets to ride for free, but those in Western Wake will pay a toll.... and everyone's taxes went in to pay for the Northern Wake part.

I'm curious about I-95. It would seem to me that a lot of that traffic is passing through the state. I don't know that for sure. That seems to me a better place to put a toll... collect some road revenue from out-of-staters that don't pay taxes here (like that stupid toll on I-95 in Delaware that always backs up - I'm sure the number of Delawarians who go through that tool is virtually zero).

'Cuz we all know that the folks in western Wake secretly miss the toll roads they were used to driving on up north... :oops: :roll:

(TIC comment referring to the CARY acronym... :roll: ;) )

[DukeUsul]

I'm not against toll roads in general. It just really grinds my gears that they've been building the outer loop around Raleigh, and everyone in Northern Wake gets to ride for free, but those in Western Wake will pay a toll.... and everyone's taxes went in to pay for the Northern Wake part.

I'm curious about I-95. It would seem to me that a lot of that traffic is passing through the state. I don't know that for sure. That seems to me a better place to put a toll... collect some road revenue from out-of-staters that don't pay taxes here (like that stupid toll on I-95 in Delaware that always backs up - I'm sure the number of Delawarians who go through that tool is virtually zero).

'Cuz we all know that the folks in western Wake secretly miss the toll roads they were used to driving on up north... :oops: :roll:

(TIC comment referring to the CARY acronym... :roll: ;) )

EXACTLY! See, the rest of North Carolina thinks they can stick the Western Wakies with toll roads because they're mostly former northerners. Prejudice! Discrimination against Yankees!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Prejudice! Discrimination against Yankees!

What's wrong with that? Being yankees is one of the few faults my parents share. I'm true southerner though, they adopted me from the south; they knew it was wrong to bring more yankee genes into the world. ;)

[DukeUsul]

Prejudice! Discrimination against Yankees!

What's wrong with that? Being yankees is one of the few faults my parents share. I'm true southerner though, they adopted me from the south; they knew it was wrong to bring more yankee genes into the world. ;)

I lived in the North for 18 years and I've been in the South now for 14. So maybe I've got all the yankee out of me? If you saw what I cooked for dinner the other night, I'll say I'm not doing too bad.... Little Katie Claire is certainly growing up a proper Southern girl.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Prejudice! Discrimination against Yankees!

What's wrong with that? Being yankees is one of the few faults my parents share. I'm true southerner though, they adopted me from the south; they knew it was wrong to bring more yankee genes into the world. ;)

I lived in the North for 18 years and I've been in the South now for 14. So maybe I've got all the yankee out of me? If you saw what I cooked for dinner the other night, I'll say I'm not doing too bad.... Little Katie Claire is certainly growing up a proper Southern girl.

I did see, and it looked tasty, except you did it in a slow cooker. That's a bbq no-no. Still looked yummy.

[DukeUsul]

I did see, and it looked tasty, except you did it in a slow cooker. That's a bbq no-no. Still looked yummy.

I know. That's all I could manage on a weekday. I have a smoker out back that will be used next time.

[YmoBeThere]

I travel the Mass Turnpike quite often. To get down to Connecticut.

[devildeac]

I travel the Mass Turnpike quite often. To get down to Connecticut.

Gambling from start to finish of your journey, eh?

[TillyGalore]

I travel the Mass Turnpike quite often. To get down to Connecticut.

Gambling from start to finish of your journey, eh?

Driving on any Massachusetts road is a gamble, thus Ymo gambles everyday. Poor thing. Time to get the heck outta there.

[YmoBeThere]

They are repaving large sections of I-95 up here. Unfortunately, the surface streets are still as crappy as ever.

[captmojo]

Toll roads are a PAIN in the ass. It now costs $12 to travel across the Chesapeake B/Tunnel. Oh, but my my, wouldn't you be the fortunate one to return within 24 hours for a minimal $5 fee?
If said road is in ownership of private hands, I can see it's worthiness, but not for our Interstate system. The original mindset for the system was the ability to move military equipment and personnel as quickly and efficiently as practicable, from one coast to the other, when needed for defense of the nation. Just emerging from the 'big' one, WWII, Eisenhower saw the benefit of the Autobahn.
If they make'em, I'd love to see an Abrams tank crush over a toll booth. I'd pay a toll to watch it!

[cl15876]

Prejudice! Discrimination against Yankees!

What's wrong with that? Being yankees is one of the few faults my parents share. I'm true southerner though, they adopted me from the south; they knew it was wrong to bring more yankee genes into the world. ;)