Heard on Channel 11 News at 6 in Houston tonight:
After three years of battling Toll Roads, The Trans Texas Corridor, THe NAFTA Super Highway, Tolling Freeways and turning our Transportation System over to private foreign companies it appeared we made some headway this session. Now it looks like it were simply thrown off track again.
It was announced that the construction on Interstate 10 (a $280,000,000 project)when completed will change the HOV Lane to a Toll Road. Only cars with three or more occupants will be allowed to use the lane for free Others, including motorcycles if they are allowed to use them at all, will pay a toll.
It was also announced that Tx.DOT is going broke and will have no choice but to turn the Toll Road System over to private companies. The victory during this session and the opening of the HOV Lanes to MC traffic now rings hollow.
When using the system to acquire the use of the HOV Lanes by Mororcycles originally there were plenty of those who said it couldn't be done. It will be quite interesting to see who in Houston will contest the loss of free use of the HOV Lane for MC traffic now.
Check out the Flyer for the TOG HAL-O-WEEN Rally coming up in Groesbeck the first weekend of November. As an added attraction this year the Largest Club in Colors will receive $1,000 in cash. The count will be taken at the Registration gate upon registration while wearing Colors and the presentation made on Saturday night.
The drawing for the 2001 Suzuki Volusia 800 will be held on Saturday night also. THe bike has 2800 original miles. It has been customized and has a beautiful Custom paint job. There are still a few tickets left but they will probably be gone before Saturday night. Only 800 were printed and they are selling for $10 each.
It has been announced that six states have been chosen to test the Virtual Toll Road theory in this country. Austin has been chosen as the guinea pigs in Texas. 450 volunteers will have GPS Systems installed in their automobiles to track their mileage. They will be given a, as yet undisclosed a/pm (amount per mile) fee so they can compare actual gas tax paid each time they fill up with the a/pm.
We asked on our TV Show, "Texas Politics Biker Style" for anyone chosen to take part in this study to contact us so we can follow the results. We doubt that anyone will be making contact. We expect to be given figures that can not be readily verified.
We see this as another backdoor tactic to toll all roadways and a giveaway to the more affluent. The better gas mileage your vehicle gets the more you will lose while the big SUVs with poor gas mileage will save money.
Could the Automakers have anything thing to do with this due to dwindling Luxaury car sales? Nahhh.
Thanks to the Permian Basin CHapter for pledging $1000 to pay Gwen back for her Credit Card usage to pay the deposit on Stubbs for the concert. It is very much appreciated.
