DALLAS — Texas Department of Transportation executive director Joe Weber said he expects the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature to de-emphasize toll roads after a series of protests and a general feeling of "toll fatigue," particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
"That's a great concern — tolling fatigue," Weber said in a conference call Dec. 8. "There's no doubt in my mind it's out there. We're sensitive to it. We're going to listen very closely with local communities out there."
"The real challenge is for the Legislature to come up with a permanent funding solution," Weber said.
At a press conference on the same day, Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott said he had a "detailed plan" to increase spending on highway projects by $4 billion per year "without increasing taxes, tolls or fees."
While defending the success of tolling as an alternative to increasing the fuel tax, Weber acknowledged that, "as we do get into an area of tolling fatigue, regardless of what portion of the state it is, we should be aware there's got to be some other sources of funding."
Weber said that TxDOT is studying how to use an estimated $1.75 billion approved by voters Nov. 4 for road construction in oil-producing regions of the state. The newly approved constitutional amendment provides a formula for tapping the state's rainy day fund for the projects. The revenue in the rainy day fund comes primarily from oil and gas taxes in the state.
In advance of the January opening of the Legislature, lawmakers have begun filing bills aimed at reducing TxDOT's funding gap. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, said he expects transportation funding to be a top issue in the upcoming session.
The North Central Texas Council of Government's transportation department recently rescinded recommendation of a toll road northeast of Dallas after widespread protests. One recent public hearing for the so-called Northeast Gateway was called off by the local fire marshal after too many protesters showed up.
The road was planned to run from Garland to Greenville. Residents criticized NCTCOG for basing its support for the road on what they considered overly optimistic traffic projections.
Texas Turnpike Corp. chairman John Crew told the Dallas Morning News that he's already spent $5 million developing the private project.
"Until you can get the leadership to say we really do need this, it's not worth using my capital to fight the politics," he told the News.
