I-85 toll lanes are on the way
November 25, 2008 at 1:07 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsSorry, Andisheh. A $110-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will be used for high-occupancy toll lanes along a section of I-85 primarily in Gwinnett County.
I pass the mic to Ariel of the AJC:
The 14-mile project, from the Perimeter in DeKalb County to Old Peachtree Road in Gwinnett, is seen as a seed that would spread to all 44 miles of Atlanta’s HOV lanes.
The tolls will be electronic, with sensors pinging a transponder in each car on the toll lane, and no stopping for toll booths. The toll price would rise and fall with congestion on the main highway: a higher price when traffic congestion is high, lower when traffic is light. Officials said questions like how much the toll price would be required more study. A similar project in California costs drivers about $1 a mile at the most congested time of the week.
And as usual, the comments are the best part.
By Non-gwinetion
Nov 25, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to thisTrust me when I say, the Gwinnett drivers (better known as Gwinetions), will do their best to fins a way to screw this up. I drive all over the country and have never seen worse drivers in my life. I can be 2 states away from Georgia and see some idiot do something stupid on the road….and when I look at the tag, yep Gwinnett County Georgia. I honestly think they enjoy sitting in traffic and they LOVE to stop and gawk at any accident or God forbid “FLASHING EMERGENCY LIGHTS” completely on the side of the road. Driver education is needed and intelligence tests should be required for all licenses. If you are too stupid to pass the test, you dont get to drive. This act alone would solve the traffic problems in Gwinnett. Only 20% would be able to drive.
By Antwan
Nov 25, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this“why can’t atlanta just expand marta?”
–Because they don’t want the cancer that it brings in the outer-lying suburbs…that’s why.
By Micah
Nov 25, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this“The STATE will have to pony up a sizable sum ý several million dollars”. ie; me. And I live in Griffin which is, for the record, nowhere near Gwinnet. Gwinnett County should have to pony up several million dollars if they can’t seem to schedule their day around their commute or cannot use gps to find alternate routes. Leave me and my tax dollars out of it. You want my money? Expand marta into the outerlying communities so that we can join the rest of the civilized world with cheap public transportation. Lived in England for 3 years and never had to drive my car into London and I lived FURTHER away than Griffin is to Atlanta. $15 for a day pass into, around and out of London. Worth every penny; sorry, shilling.
By rd
Nov 25, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to thisSo, now taxpayers can no longer ride for free in a lane that their tax dollars built. In fact, congestion will increase in the other lanes.
So, instead of funding traffic relief, the taxpayer has funded traffic relief for the rich
By obamie
Nov 25, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to thisThieves always come up with a new way to steal money.
And my personal favorite:
By Ashok
Nov 25, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
This is fabulous. Now when my boyfriend and I are on our way to Piedmont Park or the Fox Theater to see a show, we can just fly by the poor people. This is better than @ssless chaps.
What are these “@ssless chaps” of which you speak?
November 26th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I sure hope they get here sooner than later. Many are averse to the idea of toll roads but it has been proven that they will significantly cut down on traffic, which is my biggest concern.