By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-982767.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Governor Rick Scott says he knows how to build new roads and bridges in a sluggish economy: Add more tolls! James Call reports, Scott and transportation officials say the financing of roads and bridges and other infrastructure improvements in the future will rely heavily on people paying as they go when using state roads.
Tolls are at the intersection of the two issues that seem to dominate most of the governor's public remarks: government spending and jobs creation. Road construction bids are coming in at 25 percent less than expected and about a million Floridians are out of work. The governor wants to take advantage of low prices and put people to work with a billion dollar road building/job creating project financed by tolls.
Looking to south Florida, where newly expanded lanes are restricted to drivers who pay a toll, the governor says he sees an outstanding opportunity. Governor Scott says the so-called managed lanes on Interstate 95 have eased congestion for everyone.
"Secretary Prassad told me that they added just that one lane on I-95. And, just by adding that one lane which was a toll lane, The rush hour traffic on average went from 25 to 45 miles an hour. So that was all they did was, for those who didn't want to pay the extra toll, it increased their speed from 25 to 45 [miles per hour]. That's positive."
Ananth Prassad is the Secretary of the Department of Transportation who is overseeing the road building plan. He said a toll system seems inevitable. Tax on a gallon of gas pays to build roads. Improvements in fuel efficiency and the development of hybrid electric vehicles like the Prius means people use less gas and the tax the pays to build roads produces fewer dollars. So when a state wants to build more roads it needs to find a new way to raise money.
"The gas tax as a transportation revenue source is unsustainable. As most people who follow transportation know, as we go into more fuel efficient vehicles/ alternative fuel vehicles, people might be using the system as much as they are using but they are not paying as much into the system. For example, if the car gives you 20 miles per gallon and you drive 100 miles versus a car that gives you 30 miles per gallon you drive the same number of miles but you are paying less to use 100 miles."
Last year fuel taxes generated almost four billion dollars for road projects. But economists say because of increased fuel efficiencies the gas tax will generate $5 billion fewer dollars for Florida than expected during the next decade. This is a dilemma for Governor Scott. He says he was elected to create 700-thousand new jobs. A growing economy depends on an efficient transportation system but Scott is opposed to tax increases. So that opens the door for toll and public-private partnerships to build and operate new roads.
"We have limited dollars and I know taxes kill job growth, but we do need more infrastructure. So, if there is an opportunity to build something with the private sector wants to put up the money and the user will pay for it, I think that's makes all the sense in the world."
The First Coast Outer Beltway project will be the first in a series of new roads that will be paid for with tolls. When Lt. Governor Jennifer Carrol announced the state was going ahead with construction she focused on the economic benefits, including jobs, the project will bring to the Jacksonville region.
"They will work right here in their backyard for the next six years as I mentioned. Additionally suppliers, local retailers, rental equipment stores, mom and pop canteen operators, local gasoline stores, convenience stores will also benefit because of this major job activity right here in northeast Florida."
The 15-mile long highway will cost $291 million and will be financed by the Florida Turnpike enterprise. Officials expect to charge drivers $2.25.