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Health & Fitness

HOT Lanes: Traffic Management or Government Extortion? Part 2

How long before TSPLOST proponents begin using the congestion on I-85 to encourage Gwinnett residents to vote for a tax increase so they can eliminate traffic congestion?

Who Thinks HOT Lanes are a Good Idea?

By reviewing the SRTA’s HOT Lane feasibility study and we find that not only do they think it’s a good idea, they think it is such a good idea HOT lanes are planned for all metro expressways, GA 400, and the Stone Mountain Highway. 

The FAQ section of the SRTA’s website reveals “I-85 is envisioned to be the first phase of an expanded HOT network in the region.”  I-85 was chosen as the pilot location because “the I-85 corridor has very high demand and the HOV lanes are regularly overused in peak periods. In addition, the strong commuter transit presence in the corridor supports the multi-modal approach of the project.”

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The SRTA FAQ section explains tolls aren’t a tax, they are only a user fee, that gives “motorist an option to pay to use the lane if better mobility and more reliable trip time are desired. If a motorist does not want to pay the toll assessed for use of a HOT lane at a given time, he or she does not have to and may use the regular general travel lanes at no cost”.

Gena Evans, SRTA’s Executive Director, website message states she is “extremely satisfied to open the HOT lanes on time and under budget” and that this is a “significant milestone.”  In a TV interview Ms. Evans suggested “two-person carpoolers just add another person” so they can use the HOT without paying a toll.  Obviously Ms. Evans has never tried to find a carpool partner. Partners have to live in the same area, work in the same area, and have the same work schedule. Not an easy task to find one carpool partner, much less two.

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Benita M. Dodd, Vice President at Georgia Public Policy Foundation glowing comments included these gems; “It’s long past time to question whether HOT lanes help relieve congestion. Now is the time to push further”, “Each driver who chooses to pay to use the HOT lanes opens up capacity in the ‘regular’ lanes,” and “One of the greatest advantages is that the HOT lanes can serve essentially as a dedicated lane for public transportation.” Ms. Dodd seems to need a reality check, but then again she doesn’t commute along the I-85 corridor. 

Why did the SRTA and the GaDOT think eliminating the I-85 HOV lanes would not increase congestion on I-85 if as their report states HOV lanes are overused during peak periods? Or did they?

Are commuters really “choosing” to use the HOT lane, or are we being forced to by congestion caused by the HOT lanes?

How long before TSPLOST proponents begin using the congestion on I-85 to encourage Gwinnett residents to vote for a tax increase so they can eliminate traffic congestion?

Make your opinion count, email:

Governor Nathan Deal -http://www.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,165937316_166563415,00.html#

Representative Robb Woodall - https://woodall.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

ARC Chairman  Tad Leithead - tadl@mindspring.com

SRTA Director  Gena Evans - gevans@georgiatolls.com

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood  https://ntl.custhelp.com/app/ask

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