TROLLS FOR TOLLS

The Bayway Bridge project started years ago with politicians biting their tongue’s and saying little about how they were going to finance the project. Then came the discussion about tolls, again they bit their tongue’s. Next, came Jim Zigler and his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/blockthetolls/

Over 50,000 people liked the site and faster than a politician could tell a lie, they all flipped flopped and said no tolls. A year, and several plans later went by, and all of a sudden Mobile and Baldwin MPO’s have married together to give a unified front FOR tolls. This political strategy puts all the politicians in the same pot and insulates them, somewhat, from public opinion, they think.
https://www.al.com/news/2022/01/poll-shows-lack-of-support-for-toll-i-10-bridge-but-officials-unsurprised-by-results.html

“We are going to have a toll-free route and if you don’t want to pay the toll, you can take the toll-free route,” Burrell said. “We have done everything we can. We don’t see money coming from the federal infrastructure bill to pay for the bridge. We don’t see (additional) state money coming.”

The number one reason to be suspicious of anything dealing with the bridge is, take it or leave it, Jack Burrell. His track record as a councilman has been horrible and currently he is involved in yet another controversy at the Fairhope Airport Authority.

LEGO ROCKET SCIENTIST

Mr. Burrell being the spokesman for the I-10 project, in light of his failures, is reason enough to oppose tolls.

The article also quotes, Jon Gray, a political strategist based in Mobile, are you kidding? Mr. Gray is a political strategist who can be bought, and has been, by any politician. His job is to promote B.S., and he is good at it. Why would the papers seek the advice of a biased political strategist?

“ALDOT and local leaders from across Baldwin and Mobile counties have turned over every stone in Washington and Montgomery looking for additional funding, and we’ve been clear and transparent about what’s available,” he said. “The state is committed to spending at least $250 million on this project in addition to the $125 million from the federal government, which we risk losing with further delay’s.”

The price tag is 2.2 billion and they have available about 500 million, so their reasoning is to toll the general public for their inability to raise enough money any other way.

Consider this:

David Peterson

BALDWIN COUNTY CITIZENS For GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY (CGA)

FYI: While doing some research on Toll Roads I found and article which I feel relates to the proposed I-10 Toll Bridge. If this applies in Pennsylvania then why shouldn’t it apply in Alabama? (In 2007, Pennsylvania legislators passed Act 44, allowing the state to take steps toward tolling Interstate 80, running east to west through the middle of the state. Proceeds from the toll would bring in hundreds of millions of dollars each year for road repairs and public transit systems. The problem with this is states need federal authorization to add tolls to interstates. This year, the U.S. Department of Transportation rejected Pennsylvania’s third request to add tolls to I-80, leaving the state scrambling to fill a $472 million hole in its transportation budget.)

“The problem with this is, states need federal authorization to add tolls to interstates.”

Has Alabama got authorization to add a toll to the proposed Bay Bridge?

What the citizens of Baldwin and Mobile County’s need is another NO TOLLS PETITION.

Give it hell Dean Young:

Put 100,000 signatures on a NO TOLLS PETITION and you will see the same politicians advocating for a toll, running for election on the platform of NO TOLLS>