The Democrat, Maxine Waters, objects to the 10 & 110 Freeway high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on the basis of equity while Rep. Gary G. Miller, the ranking CA Republican on the House Transportation Committee, sees it as "double taxation".
Miller has a formidable ally in his opposition to the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority High Occupancy Toll lanes (called Express Lanes) - House Transportation Chair John Mica, who "opposes taking any existing capacity that's free and tolling it." In fact, he "wrote into federal law a ban on tolling existing segments of the interstate highway system that run through his district."
"Even though driving in the carpool lane is voluntary, Miller said the toll would be tantamount to a double taxation on motorists, who already paid gasoline taxes to build the freeway lanes.
"If you want to do a toll road, build a toll road with private funds," he said in a Capitol Hill interview. "But don't use taxpayers' dollars to build a road and then charge them to use it."
The project received a $210-million federal grant - funds that became available after the New York State Assembly rejected the Manhattan congestion pricing project in 2008. Interestingly, that also was a bi-partisan attack on congestion pricing.
Thanks to Len Conley
FULL STORY: Toll-lane project faces renewed opposition in Congress
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