TDOT is throwing the idea out of a possible toll bridge over the Mississippi River. TDOT leaders say there is a need for a third bridge but the cost is out of bounds with current budget issues. The costs concern has led to talk of a toll bridge. Toll roads aren’t uncommon especially up north.
What do you think about the idea? Would you want to pay a toll to cross the river on a new bridge.
Who would get the money—-TN or AR? Would they split it? And, what if AR decided to take a similar measure? If we are already taxed enough—which I personally do not believe—this isn’t going to go over well.
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George: Sounds like Tennessee would pay for it and keep the cash.
Welcome to big city life! Infrastructure costs are a fact, there’s no getting around them, although I would make the toll one way (on inbound to Memphis) traffic!
Ex-Pat
http://www.memphisrules.com
Turn the Pyrimid into a Fle Market
They (The City of Memphis) need to put a toll on the 240 loop,(at the exits and entrances) active from the hours of 6am til 9am, and then from 3pm til 6pm. I bet that would raise money for the city that is so much in debt… I presented this idea to City council, but no response. Just think, run this toll only when the city is in the RED and once back in the GREEN close it. MORE MONEY FOR THE CITY of Memphis…. Come on you got to admit you YOU LIKE THE IDEA
How about make this new toll bridge for commercial traffic only, closing the other 2 bridges to commercial traffic and then make them pay the toll?
“TDOT leaders say there is a need for a third bridge”
Nice, but certainly not necessary.
Traffic has NEVER been congested on those TWO bridges, unless there has been a traffic accident, or some suicidal idiot wanting to take a swan dive.
The premise is false and the reasoning is faulty. Bottom line: the state wants more revenues.
BTW, I have to wonder how much the bridge traffic would be reduced if Arkansas & Mississippi built a bridge just south of the state line that would link I69 to I40 & I55???
One word can describe comment # 6: WRONG!
“BTW, I have to wonder how much the bridge traffic would be reduced if Arkansas & Mississippi built a bridge just south of the state line that would link I69 to I40 & I55???”
This would be the best bet so they can start running hazmat trucks (i.e. nuclear material) safely across the river. It would potentially dangerous cargo like this out of city limits and traffic.
Ex-Pat
http://www.memphisrules.com
Yep! Let’s think about this- really? Why would people pay to go over a new bridge, when you can use two for free. Only in Memphis
Yes…only in Memphis. Only in Memphis do we have some people scrutinizing and criticizing every decision local government makes—and all of the scrutiny and criticism is negative. Only in Memphis do we have some people longing for the days of old when their kind was in control, and things were allegedly better. Better for whom? I’ve lived here all my life, and this city has always been a tough place to call home. As of late, all that is heard is a bunch of whining from the former rulers. Only in Memphis can people who do NOT live here have a forum in which to routinely criticize the local government, debase its leaders and arm-chair quarterback every decision made. Only in Memphis can a bunch of unqualified people whine about almost every decision the city makes, even though the decisions made may not even effect them, directly or otherwise. Only in Memphis can a mayor legitimately win election after election, but have his detractors refer to him as a “king”—and that’s one of the nicer names. Only in Memphis can the leaders—most of which were Democrats—be subjected to an obvious politically motivated sting designed to “clean up” local politics—except who knew local politics were dirty. Republicans did lose a few people, but the party went relatively untouched. But, the people who live in Memphis aren’t supposed to see it for whatit is. Only in Memphis…
TDOT says there is a need but didn’t specify why. Neither bridge is on my list of routes to avoid at high traffic hours. Maybe recent seismic activity is on the brain and their concern lies with truckers being able to cross after the New Madrid fault gives way. I don’t believe either of the existing bridges is built to withstand a significant quake.
Maybe after the newest bridge is complete, it would be a convenient time to make earthquake withstanding adjustments to the old “new bridge” given equipment and crews will already be in place. Paying a toll to avoid a heavily trafficked “old bridge” would then be well worth it.
P.S. Kinda funny how nobody refers to the bridges by their name eh?
Oh yes…. wonderful idea, another form of revenue that is only “TEMPORARY”. Hmmm Like the wheel tax that was only to help get the schools up to date, then go away, RIGHT. It is still there. We don’t need any other tolls, taxes etc. The City of Memphis needs to learn to spend the taxes and other revenue more wisely, i.e. less in their wallets, more to the city proper.
I have wondered for a long time why we don’t have toll roads. As a frequent travelor to other parts of the country, I can see the many advantages of toll roads, both, financially and for convenience. I think a toll road is a great idea. You pay $6.00 every time you go through the Lincoln Tunnel to New York City. Why not pay 75 cents to cross the river. I am all for it!!
Yep. Only in Memphis. Only in Memphis do we have white folks whining about what’s wrong with the city—as if any of them have a decent, plausible or viable solution to any of the the problems facing this city. Only in Memphis do we have some people Monday morning quarterbacking all of the decisions local politicians make. Only in Memphis do we have this “my tax dollars” garbage, as if they and they alone pay taxes. Only in Memphis could a great idea like “The Rant” turn into a meeting ground for racists and bigots. Only in Memphis…
Country girl…why increase commercial only? They already pay additional road taxes. To only charge commercial would lead to further price increase in consumer goods. Toll bridges are fine but there is usually a reason behind the toll, i.e. the bridge/road was built for a special reason and had a defined purpose.
The old 55 bridge should have been designated a toll road once the Hernando Desoto bridge was completed. That would cut dowwn on the amount of traffic that old bridge endures.
Making the 240 loop a toll road is a good idea in theory, however, that is a federally funded road so it won’t happen, also that would be about as practical as Herenton’s idea to tax out of state workers.
And before the idea hits, making the roads into and out of the city a toll road to help line Herenton’s pockets, those same roads could be turned into toll roads for the other cities.
Tj is everything with out about race, what does a toll on a bridge have to do with politics and race???? Nothing!
Traffic is bad enough during those hours – we are going to make people stop, or do a slow roll at one of its busiest venues?
TJ21 your words are golden and are the stone-cold truth … ONLY IN MEMPHIS !!! Also some from the other side wil swear up and down you are a racist. Those are the ones that know the truth truly hurts.
I don’t say tax the out-of-town workers, I say boot them out of here for good,make them work where they live. All you do is complain about our city, you should be the most heavily taxed people around.Just be glad I am not the mayor, your fingers would be wore to the bone with all of the negetive blogging you do and just like Herenton, your voices wouldn’t mean a hill of beans to me … If you love where you stay so much, do something to bring jobs to that little hole-in-the-wall you call your town. Well maybe if we raised the taxes on you peoples we wouldn’t need a new toll bridge. Please just stay out, we don’t want or need you here.
As for the bridge, well you don’t build a project, then decide after it is completed it should be something else. Yeah, it would take planning and development to make either bridge a toll road, same with the 240 loop. Yeah the 240 loop is five lanes wide most of the way around, but with these inner city lunatics, they need all 5 to drive. It would be total chaos, to toll that loop. Besides it would just give the Memphis criminals more rules to break and cfrimes to commit. Would you want to sit at the toll booth at Millbranch and 240 at 3 am?
Smoke, you must be smokin something! If the out of towners quit working here, the place would be a virtual ghost town. The ones that built the city got tired of the cest pool the place became after turning all the decent areas into Section 8 housing and moved away. More than half of the city workers to include police, fire, utility, politicians, teachers, most any type of manager(even the city manager) won’t live within the city limits. And you say boot them all out. AS far if YOU were the mayor, well sir, you do know we live in a democracy. You sound like a dictator, just like Herenton, it is your way or it is wrong. You would appoint all the right people where you wanted them.Speaking of racist and bigots, you “Smoke” are the biggest of all. And for your info, the whining is actually called voicing your opinion. We all have that right, even bigots like you and TJ. Just to enlighten you, you don’t tax your people to correct problems, you correct the problem. Reduce the wages these outragous appointees are receiving, make them earn their pay. Half of them don’t have a degree, yet take over a library? Why because”Day brutha knows dis dude dat stole a book from dis library b-foe”. Yeah that’s Willie’s philosophy.
Smoke, u are silly…Boot the out of towners? They are the ones that built this city, moved away and left it to the section 8 housing and all values plummetted. The out of towners go back to the same jobs they have been holding for decades, its the new memphians that job hop weekly. The city of Memphis has already taxed the people out of town, they’ll stay living there. And look at the Memphians, go to Tipton, Fayette County and Southaven Walmarts and check out the tags, Shelby county, do you want to tax them just because they shop where taxes are lower? Oh wait one of those would be your vehicle! The Southaven police and school officials have even caught Shelby county cars dropping off their kids at DeSoto Schools, because they don’t want to put them in Memphis schools, go figure that one yourself. You know Smoke if you say YOU would run a city the way you want, well, that says you are a DICTATOR. You run a city the way the citizens vote it to be run. It is a Mayors position to see that it happens that way. This is one reason Memphis has declined, because Willie wants his kingdom run his way, to heck with what the citizens want. Follow Ray Nagen and cultivate your Chocolate city and it will melt away, and the little vanilla beans will once again make it prosper.
Hopefully Geore doesn’t feel this message is too direct and delete it to keep peace with SMOKE and TJ!