Former fundraiser for Kirk Watson, Alfred Stanley, gets pro-toll letter to editor published on 1/25/07.

Since phase I tolls opened the Statesman won't print letters that oppose tolls. But, former fundraiser for Kirk Watson, Alfred Stanley, gets pro-toll letter to editor published on 1/25/07:

Tolls help pay for growth

The mantra of anti-toll activists is "No tolls on existing roads," and it doesn't make sense. I can still drive north on MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) and take Texas 45 to get to Interstate 35 without paying a toll. Or I can take the new toll lanes to get there. Tolls are being used to pay for new lanes to deal with the population explosion that's taken place around Austin.

I've been an active environmentalist in these parts long enough to remember when our mantra was "Make growth pay for itself." The idea was that older neighborhoods shouldn't have to foot the bill to extend infrastructure out to new subdivisions, thereby subsidizing them.

Tolls are a fine way to help make growth pay for itself. Allowing low-emission and high-occupancy vehicles free access to toll lanes provides a tangible behavioral incentive that will help reduce air pollution — a critical problem here.

ALFRED STANLEY
astanley@astanley.com
Austin