.
More Toll talk trying to fool people of Toronto
Globe and Mail - "It's time for Torontonians to talk about tolls" Globe and Mail - "Et tu, Toronto? Traffic a problem Caesar couldn't solve".
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Latest from the Bank for Inflation
BoE press release - "Inflation Report - November 2009".
USA Roundup
The third woman this week touting tolls - DC Streetsblog - "Clinton's Budget Director Backs Congestion Pricing, VMT Tax". (For a bit on where this is coming from see "Feds to Convince DC Area Taxpayers to Embrace $4.8 Billion Mileage Tax" on 28 October.)
Sundry stories - Maryland "ICC debate rolls on" newspaper.com - "Rhode Island Governor Vetoes E-ZPass Privacy Bill" North Carolina - "Expressway exacts toll from homeowners" Florida - "Toll citation mixup" video Maryland - "Montgomery Co. Council Discusses I-270 Changes" North Carolina - "Local Road Leaders Asking For Expensive Toll Road Study" Pennsylvania - "House Republican leader urges rejection of I-80 study".
Trolls rule
Bangkok Post - "Tollway fee rise allowed to avoid suit".
A few trolls caught with their hands in the till
B92 - ""Road Mafia" defendants get 131 yrs in jail".
More nonsense
BBC - "Poor nations vow low-carbon path". What makes the people of these nations poor, apart from corrupt politicians, is not too much carbon but too many people.
Bit more on Toronto toll touts
Toronto Star - "It may be end of the road for road toll opposition" Toronto Star - "Making a case for toll roads" some comments.
Metro - "Road tolls 'the elephant in the road' in Ontario". It looks as if the international toll touts have decided to target Toronto. Do they think that Canadians will be bigger suckers than elsewhere?
Irish tolls "privacy"
Irish Times - "Road authority to amend its methods" Irish Times - "M50 toll details to be protected".
Spend, spend, spend
British Retail Consortium - "BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor October 2009 - Best October Sales For Seven Years".
The most relevant figure is the increase in sales of 5.9%, a sign that the way out of this recession is the way that we got into it. Other signs of the way that things are going are the increases in house prices, the low value of sterling and the continuing trade deficit as Britain borrows to buy imported goods - BBC - "UK trade gap widens in September" ONS - "UK Trade September 2009". Britain has a surplus on services, which means that the annual overall trade deficit is running at "only" thirty billion pounds a year.
Tuesday 10 November 2009
More of Trolls trying to scare drivers
IT Wire - "End of e-tolling guarantees more Sydney congestion".
USA Roundup
Sundry stories - "New York senators want to preserve discounted tolls for Staten Islanders" New Jersey / Pennsylvania - "Planner: Many area highways have potential for tolls" Land Line Mag - "Economy stalls Mississippi toll road".
Toronto's toll touts
Toronto Star - "Road tolls touted as city's economic cure" LOTS of comments Toronto Ctv - "Toronto's traffic problems clog city's productivity" video National Post Toronto - "Report suggests road tolls, parking and fuel taxes for GTA".
Globe and Mail - "Toronto congestion costs Canada $3.3-billion: OECD" Metro - "Road tolls could be boon for economy, report suggests".
Update on Manchester's transport improvements without a Con
Student Direct Mancunion - "The three-year transformation - no congestion charge needed".
Bit more on Irish toll fines
Irish Times - "€12m in toll fines collected by NRA".
Monday 9 November 2009
Change - Time Perspective
Broadcast a few weeks ago - BBC iplayer - "In Our Time - The Geological Formation of Britain". Interesting, though listeners may still get the misconception that the current Ice Age ended about ten thousand years ago, when in fact we are probably only in a glacial minima and even colder periods could return very soon (in geological terms). On the other hand this Ice Age may end and the Earth gradually return to normal ice free conditions, with sea levels two hundred feet or so higher - so why are the Global Warming believers not all moving to the hills?
Protest
Inside Costa Rica - "Santa Ana Residents Protest against tolls on Autopista".
From Mike Rutherford
Telegraph - "Mr Money: Labour's still milking the motorist".
Is there a party which is not planning to milk drivers after the election?
Choice?
BBC - "UK to embrace nuclear - Miliband". This decision is decades too late and highlights what a mess has been made of a country that developed nuclear power but now imports a large part of its energy needs.
Sinking
BBC - "Maldives anger at climate inertia". There are now five people living on the Maldives for each inhabitant in 1950. That is the problem, not Global Warming.
USA Roundup
Troll backing for Virginia's governor-elect - National Review - "From Point A to Point B".
Another female troll selling a toll road to the people - WRAL (North Carolina) - "Charlotte urban loop to be built with help of private funds" video.
On the gravy train - Dallas Morning News - "Report: Texas agency pays consultants top dollar" Dallas Morning News - "Outside contract work taking bigger toll on North Texas Tollway Authority". There are really two problems and neither of them is whether roads are designed by contractors or inhouse staff. The first problem is that tolls equate with waste and corruption. The second problem is division of responsibility between two agencies - TXDOT (who employ numerous inhouse staff) and NTTA (who contract out).
More of the usual propaganda about etolls saving time - Sentinel - "Florida I-95 express tolls cut travel times". The truth is that it is tolls which delay drivers, waste fuel and cause accidents. Etolls are just less bad.
Sundry stories - newspaper.com - "Pennsylvania Resurrects Plan to Toll Interstate 80 Freeway" etrucker - "Pa. applies again to toll I-80" Florida - "Get ready for new toll system" Georgia - "Plan for Ga. 400 toll lanes revived" Texas - "MPO to consider nontoll study of U.S. 281".
More Irish enjoyment from tolls
Independent - "Motorists fork out €50,000 on M50 toll fines every day". The Independent's editorial says - "There is a silver lining. The authority reaps the profits, which ultimately go to the taxpayers. A win for taxpayers makes a nice change."
Report on the opposition to toll removal
Japan Times - "Japan's roundabout road issue".
Bad news for private tolls
Korea Times - "Profit Guarantee Abolished for Private Highways".
Saturday 7 November 2009
USA Roundup
Electricity tolls (we assume this is tongue in cheek - but who knows!) - Columbian - "Another call for a study, and for tolls" letter.
More etolls fun - Denver Journal - "E-470 tolls: A $50 surprise for drivers of rental cars".
More hypocrisy from toll touts - Mobilizing the Region (NY) - "Will Walder Bring Benefits of Electronic Tolls to MTA?".
Latest in tags - Venture Beat - "NXP's sensors for smart Band-Aids, smart bottles, and pay-per-use cars".
Sundry stories - Illinois - "Hainesville mayor says tolls shouldn't be in Route 120's future" South Carolina - "Rep. Chalk makes paying off toll road a priority, suggests ways to do it".
Friday 6 November 2009
Toll privatisation plan
Courier Mail - "Queensland Government attacked over asset sales plans".
USA Roundup
Some are more equal than others - newspaper.com - "Maryland Politicians, Judges, Bureaucrats Drive Toll Free - Maryland officials responsible for imposing tolls on drivers do not pay any tolls themselves" WCVBtv (Boston) - "Lawmakers Get Thousands To Drive To Work".
Anti toll candidate won Vancouver - Oregonian - "Vancouver support important for the Interstate 5 bridge".
Sundry stories - New York - "State Thruway Authority Fires Toll Collector Accused of Harassing Activist" audio.
Maine - "Alternate sites for York plaza elicit concerns" Maine - "Turnpike Authority's York tollbooth options criticized" Maine - "Plans Unveiled For Revamped York Tolls" video West Virginia - "No Grinch on the 'pike this year" Texas - "Official says tollway authority should bow out of Southwest Parkway" Georgia - "New 'Toll Lanes,' Not More Toll Roads, for Metro Atlanta" Georgia - "G-DOT Proposes Adding Tolls to Metro Interstates/Highways" audio.
Etoll fun
BC Local - "A dozen trips across GE Bridge: $400".
More on Helsinki's Congestion toll back on
Ice News - "Congestion charges to be implemented in Helsinki".
Troll takeover bid
LandLine Mag - "Toll operator rejects takeover by Canadian pension funds" Business Spectator - "Transurban's true value".
Thursday 5 November 2009
USA Roundup
More etoll fun - Plain Dealer (Ohio) - "E-ZPass is working smoothly, but drivers are confused about what to do with the transponder".
Sundry stories - Pennsylvania - "Our opinion: Can Specter win if he opposes I-80 tolls? " Texas - "New fee schedule proposed for Toll 183A" newspaper.com - "California Toll Road Admits Penalties Were Unconstitutional" Illinois - "Tollway gets an earful on oasis contracts at hearing".
Florida - "Consultant: Toll agency could be more open" DC / Virginia - "Airport board raises rates for Dulles Toll Road" Texas - "Funding shortfall may cause more delay for Southwest Parkway" California - "Bay Area bridge toll increases loom" Texas - "Non-toll option better for aquifer, faster to build" California - "Toll lane will extend into Milpitas".
Texas - "Texans vote for eminent domain reform, Prop 11 falls short of giving it to them" Virginia - "HOT lanes get cold welcome" Georgia - "I-75/I-575, I-285, Ga. 400, "Gwinnett Connector" toll projects proposed" California - "More Bay Bridge woes - Higher tolls?".
FTA welcome Lib Dem toll plans
FTA - "FTA welcomes LibDem recognition of need for level playing field".
Given the FTA track record this is not surprising.
Bit more on German Tories pushing tolls for cars
Update of story on 12th October - The Local - "New transport minister ignites debate over car toll for autobahn".
More proposed con for Land of tolls
Times of India - "Traffic dept turns its attention to Peth areas".
More from the Irish toll touts
Irish Times - "Charges would maximise efficient use of facilities".
Report on Zimbabwe's new tolls
The National - "Highway tax takes toll on Zimbabwe".
Car sales up in October
BBC - "Scrappage sees UK car sales surge" SMMT - link to press release etc.
Bank throws more fuel onto inflation fire
BBC - "Extra £25bn to stimulate economy " BofE press release.
Wednesday 4 November 2009
USA Roundup
Election results - CNN - "GOP wins key governor races but loses N.Y. congressional seat" ABC - "Election 2009: Republicans Bounce Back, Winning Governor's Races in New Jersey and Virginia".
The new Virginia Governor is a Republican whose policies included tolls - for drivers travelling in from other states, though the exiting Democrat also favoured tolls and road sales.
The Republicans won New Jersey partly due to their anti toll postition compared with Corzine.
Another area where tolls were a major issue was in the fight for Mayor of Vancouver (Washington State). There is not yet a result but it looks as if the anti toll candidate will unseat the current Mayor.
Toll heroes - Baltimore Sun - "ICC tidbit: 20 percent will beat tolls without E-ZPass?".
Sundry stories - DC / Virginia - "Board votes to raise rates on Dulles Toll Road" California - "Bay Area Transit Authority begins hearings on possible Bay Area bridge toll increases to $6 per car" Maryland - "Barve seeks say for legislators on ICC tolls" Alabama - "I-10, 231 Toll road projects 'in holding pattern'" Texas - "Wait continues for unpaid toll fares" video Texas - "Viewpoint: Non-toll plan still makes the most sense" DC / Virginia - "Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to vote on Dulles Toll Road toll increase".
Call for more tolls so that roads are reserved for cyclists
Bike Radar - "'Road tolls and charges needed to encourage cycling'". If the cycling lobby gets rid of drivers who will pay for the roads (and pavements!) that they use?
RHA criticise Lib Dem toll plans
Handy Shipping Guide - "Lib Dem Freight Tolls Plan Condemned By Road Haulage Group".
Expensive expenses controller
MPs reacted with prolonged boos to the announcement that the chair of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will get one hundred thousand pounds a year - Guardian - "Profile: Sir Ian Kennedy". MPs should have not been surprised that the gravy train carries on, even though they are to be ejected.
Railways fight against removal of road tolls
Mainichi Daily News - "Grand plan for transportation system needed before making all expressways free".
Car firms back in black
BBC - "General Motors cancels Opel sale" BBC - "US sales rise at both GM and Ford" BBC on Monday - "Cost-cutting boosts Ford profits".
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Let the train take your wallet
BBC - "First £1,000 rail fare criticised". What would the fare be if the railways were not subsidised?
Big Blue blunder
Computer Weekly - "Congestion charge suffers technical glitch as IBM takes over contract".
Green cost
roadtransport.com - "'Hybrids don't boost bottom line'".
USA Roundup
Bit more on the report which says that miles travelled appears to be closely linked to economic well being but concludes that there should be "road-pricing" - Oregonian - "Study: Driving good for the economy (well, duh!)".
Trolls carry on without a toll road - Atlanta Journal - "DOT changes course on I-75/I-575 toll proposal".
Sundry stories - NY (Grand Island) - "Lawsuit should fail" Texas - "Woman 'shocked' by $1,845 NTTA bill for late tolls" Maine - "Toll plaza likely to stay in York" California - "MTC Says Bay Bridge Closure Caused Loss Of $1.9 Million In Tolls" California - "Bay Area Toll Authority to Hold Public Hearings on Proposed Toll Hike for Earthquake Safety" California - "Toll roads agree to $42 million settlement over penalties" OOIDA - "Tolling I-80 in Penn. would be a harmful bailout - Tolling public roads hurts truckers, businesses and highway users".
Helsinki's on/off Congestion toll is back to on
Uutiset - "Proposal for Helsinki Congestion Charges Moves Forward". The suburban areas which surround Helsinki are presumably still opposed to a con.
Congestion toll
Today's Zaman - "GM plans to increase bridge tolls during rush hour".
Bit more on Government response to Transport Cttee report on Taxes and charges on road users
Northern Echo - "Olympics spending sucks transport cash from regions".
Another expensive hole?
Brisbane Times - "Clem 7 traffic estimates predict 50,000 car shortfall".
Chinese discover solution to Global warming
BBC - "Scientists 'cause' Beijing snow" Shanghai Daily - "Sudden cold snap brings snow".
Monday 2 November 2009
A critique of Australian road taxation
The Australian - "Road leads away from Soviet path".
Maladroit? Try incompetent and disingenuous
BBC - "Johnson admits migration mistakes".
USA Roundup
A new report says that miles travelled appears to be closely linked to economic well being. Though the conclusion of this report is that there should be "road-pricing"! Oregonian - "Study: More driving good for the economy" Cascade Policy Institute - "Driving the Economy: Automotive Travel, Economic Growth, and the Risks of Global Warming Regulations" pdf .
Drivers get some cash back - LA Times - "Two O.C. toll road operators to forgive fines".
newspaper.com - "Corporate America Grows More Involved in Photo Enforcement".
Sundry stories - Maryland - "ICC was always intended to exclude most people" "Calling on the Pennsylvania ghost" Oregon / Washington State - "Despite rhetoric in Vancouver mayor's race, decisions on tolls for I-5 lie elsewhere".
Bit more on Tories accuse Labour
What appears to be the new Labour party document which details "road pricing" plans is now available - LGA Labour group - "Putting fairness first - Local Labour's manifesto for a new term" pdf. In fact there are no details and almost all it says is "Towards lower carbon transport - We have to change the way we travel if we are to meet climate change targets. Local Labour will emulate the best. In the most congested towns and cities we will use road
pricing in concert with a step change in bus services, cycling and walking."
Sunday 1 November 2009
USA Roundup
Less sickly babies with etolls - Washington Post - "Why EZ-Pass is good for babies".
Strange that there were no stories anout the ill effects of toll queues before the trolls realised that they could scam more money with etolls.
Trolls sell their plane - News OK - "Oklahoma Turnpike board trims budget".
Corzine, who is supported by the bankers, let the cat out of the bag on a renewal of his defeated tolls plan if he wins the election - politicker nj - "Lawrence and DiCicco: Corzine's Crazy Toll Road Scheme Is Back" NY Times - "Corzine Vows Turnpike Tolls Will Not Rise" NJ.com - "GOP challenger Christie says 'don't believe' Corzine on toll road pledge" Jersey.com - "Corzine: Part of toll-road plan, hikes may be revived" NJ Voices - "A Corzine gaffe on tolls?".
The interview which was published on Thursday -NY Times - "A Rivalry as Strained as New Jersey's Finances ".
Trolls renewed proposal to toll I=80 in Pennsylvania - Turnpike press release on Friday.
Stories - Gant Daily - "Gabler Denounces Renewed Efforts to Toll I-80" Gant Daily - "Thompson Responds to Third I-80 Tolling Request" Gant Daily - "Alliance to Stop I-80 Tolling Responds to Turnpike's Resubmission" Courier Express - "Thompson opposes I-80 tolls - again".
Philadelphia Inquirer - "Letters: Tolling I-80 is just part of highway funding" Philadelphia Inquirer - "Pa. renews push for I-80 tolls" Sun Gazette - "State renews push to toll Interstate 80" Pittsburgh Tribune Review - "Pennsylvania revives plan to toll Interstate 80" Landline Mag - "Pennsylvania refiles I-80 tolling application".
Sundry - Oregon / Washington State - Columbia River Crossing letters Illinois - "People need more time to pay fines" letter Texas - "Toll troubles with a rent car" letter California - "Golden Gate Bridge plans how to get into black" California - "Golden Gate Bridge looks to cut toll-takers, raise fees to get out of budget mess" California - "Hearings set on proposed Bay Area bridge toll hike".
California - "Bay Bridge closure could stretch beyond weekend" California - "A Toll To Cross the Golden Gate On Foot Or Bicycle?" Texas - "Will voters buy a tax increase for roads?" Maryland - "ICC toll hearing: Public questions proposed rates" Maryland - "Hearing draws critics of ICC tolls" Texas - "City's defense for not paying up sounds familiar".
Bit more on Dartford toll delays
Kent Online - "Travelling through the Dartford Crossing takes just 10 minutes: Government".
Tories accuse Labour
The Tories are claiming to have got hold of a Labour party document which details planned increases in local taxes including "a roll-out of road pricing and workplace parking taxes". Are they sure it is not one of their own secret documents? Express - "Now Brown Plans Council Tax Bomb".
It's a troll's life in the sun
Daily Telegraph - "Greed's still good at Transurban" Daily Telegraph - "Motorway moguls' $18.5m highway robbery".
Also more on Macquarie restructuring - Brisbane Times - "Thanks for the ride ... and billions in fees".
Reversal of - No congestion tolls, for now
Following Friday's story there is - Vietnam News - "Motorist to pay to travel into centre of HCM City".
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