Outer Beltway

In my travels which have been extensive throughout this great land of ours I plan my route using interstates when possible and looking for what appears to be the best route. Some prove to be better than others, for example: Approaching Atlanta on I-75 there is a “By-Pass to Florida”. WRONG, it is a very long way around, kind of like trying to scratch your elbow by reaching behind your back. Much better to time the trip to cross Atlanta at Non-Rush Hour and just sail straight through downtown. When faced with a toll-road I gladly pay the toll to ease the trip. When I go to Disney World I pick up Florida’s Turnpike at I-75, pay the toll and I’m there.

First of all, hats off to Mike Heemer for his well-reasoned analysis of the likely actual effect of the Outer Tollway.

One detail deserves clarification and further analysis - the property tax exemption issue. Mike noted that we (local government) would forego property tax on the land and road for 3-5 years and then in theory hope to make up for that via the increased development the tollway would induce.

Actually, the proposed exemption is much more enduring than the mere 3-5 years of Tollway construction. FDOT wants, but lacks statutory authority to offer the Public-Private-Partner (PPP) an exemption from paying property tax for the life of the toll concession. That is expected to be 60-75 years. The total value of such an exemption is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars, per a Times Union article detailing the reasons behind the current hold on the Tollway project. In other words, FDOT wants the next legislative session in Tallahassee to pass a law requiring local governments to forego property taxes on the Tollway and its underlying lands for the entire 60-75 year life of the toll concession.

When I left SD nearly 3 years ago they were building this expressway (California speak for 6 lane parking lot) and had been for a while.

Here are some excerpts from a news article I just spotted. I've also provided a link to the story. Anything in here sound familiar?

It's 10 miles long

some merchants in the area are disappointed in the toll way's generation of new customers

The responses to yesterday's blog lengthened it past the point of convenient reading. In addition, Clayscrubdweller (hereinafter 'CSB' for brevity) took the time to analyze and question some of my points and deserves a thoughtful response. I will summarize his main points and list sources which support my observations.

TOLLING AND TRANSPONDERS

Nothing in the Project Information Memorandum (PIM) describing the OB to potential private partners limits tollrates or asserts FDOT control over tolls. Public tollroad authorities tend to set tolls at rates that pay the bonds and maintain the roads while maximizing traffic. Maximizing traffic on tollroads is in the public interest as it unloads nearby free roads, maximizes safety, and serves more of the public. Mathematic modeling indicates that maximum revenue (the obvious goal of a private entity) is achieved by much higher (double or more) tolls on far fewer drivers (the few that can and do choose to pay)

Recent entries in the CTLAC-oriented blog suggest it may be worthwhile to discuss Outer Beltway (OB) funding and tolling in a separate blog. This is also necessary for fairness to the CTLAC Blog; 'Netiquette' asks that we not 'hijack' an existing blog to discuss issues not related to the original blog.

I have closely followed this project and its ancestors since moving here in 1995. It is complex, hugely expensive, and subject to continual change as funding, priorities, plans, personnel, and populations all shift. As a result, there is a good deal of outdated and wrong information in circulation. I will attempt to shed some light here:

Anybody read the article on Governors Park today?

How does the developer of Governors Park know the first section of the Beltway will be complete in 2012? Sounds like the developers are privy to information not yet made known to the public. Last I heard, there was no money slated for this project and foreign investors were being courted (so the thing will be built before 2035).

What else is going to pop up in the path of the proposed Outer Beltway? Governors Park just lends credit to my belief that people with deep pockets (and stand to profit financially) are influencing the Outer Beltway project for sheer personal gain. I am not saying powerful influential people shouldn't be able to voice their desires and pursue profit. It just feels like these people may have more access to decision-makers and information than the general public.

I have watched the news coverage of the proposed 495 with great interest. Did anyone else notice the Pink route was selected before they announced the free Shands Bridge would be eliminated? I was a supporter of the Purple/Black routes, because I've always thought that having two places to cross the River is better than simply having one. More roads, bridges, and choices, less drivers congested in one spot. 

It was also interesting to note that the Pink/Brown routes were very similar and the Purple/Black ones were alike. The FDOT claimed the pink route garnered the most community support, but if you looked at their numbers comparing the Southerly routes (Pink/Brown) to the Northern Routes (purple/black), the Northern routes were cummulatively more popular. I think the Black route got the least support from the state because it was the most expensive. But, if you looked at the number or road miles you were getting for the price, it looked like the best value. And, most importantly, it connected 495 directly into 95.