Beach revs up for I-264 toll sequel

.. with so many people who dont want to cross over the bay to do their shopping, the local merchants will be pleased to see them in their shops.
I have lived in Hampton for almost 3 years and I have been over the HRBT I think 4 times? The Southside isnt very appealing as it is, what with Mayors Fraim and whats her name over in Virginia Beach. (Obhderdorff? Oberdorf? Olendorff? However you spell it!)
The tolls on the interstates would definitely do one thing: people will stick in their own areas/regions to do shopping and other stuff.
Shannon P.
Hampton

Should have put the money they paid to "Consultants" into the roads, or collect back the $150,000,000 that our fine Governor just took out of the VDOT funds for his pork project, that would have taken care of roads. No toll on 264, VB City Council that votes for this should be voted out of office next election, including our fine old mayor.

What about all the money that was overcollected when the tolls were in place, it went into a fund and was never given back or used for the upkeep of 264. Tax-tax-tax and spend it all is not the way to go.

To Reid Greenmun: I guess I'm "no one". I use buses these days and is sure beats driving. When visiting my father, I got to try out light rail. It's worth it. So, in your eyes, I'm "no one". I CAN legally drive and I CAN afford it. I choose not to drive!

I'm so sick of hearing about the infrastructural issues around here, particularly that of the roads. If you toll one road you may as well toll another, and use some of that money to build long needed roads that do not exist. Stuff like I-95 is a major road on the East Coast tying Richmond in but there is nothing similiar to that in HR, we only have two bridge tunnels, 264 is the closest we have to a single road tying the cities together, no road linking us directly to DC, and so on and so forth. Why is it that I-64 is just diminished once you leave Newport News headed to Richmond, it is such a joke; 2 lanes going in each direction. Toll them all I can get around well enough without the highway here anyway it saves time but you are taking your life into your hands everytime you get onto them. I-264 is okay, usually, but it doesn't take much to cause gridlock ...

HAHA! Now that's the funniest thing I 've heard all day! And its only 9:47 a.m. A military memeber who is still a resident of their home town does not pay VA. State Taxes, But most have to pay their home town STATE taxes. And members who are VA residents who are stationed in another state pay VA State Taxes. The only tax a Military member does not pay IF their residence is another state is the personal property CAR TAX. We even pay that $25.00 for a sticker that you no longer get! They pay every other tax just like everyone else LOL. With the execption if they shop at an exchange, Then they pay no sales tax. A lot of people think the Military gets some kind of free pass, I guess because they believe everything they hear.

"Stick to important issues and stop coming up with inane ideas like scarlet license plates for 3 time dui offenders. There are much more important issues being overlooked."

It will seem more important after the drunk runs into you or your family. I promise.

That's quite a long list of taxes. Tell us how many of them that the repubs eliminated during their majority of both Houses during most of Bush's administration and when the repubs had a majority of both sides of the VA legislature during half of Gilmore's administration.

Maybe the tolls on 264 will slow you people down. When I drive on that road at about 60 I feel like I am standing still. 264 is not the Daytona 500.

Finally... some common sense comments have been made.. The several previous military comments: THANK YOU! chrisald: THANK YOU It's good to know that smart people do exist on these boards. We are going to have to pay for it somehow. 1.6 million people and growing... gotta do something!

MTMSR: FYI. Yes, military is exempt from certain taxes and when you're stationed OUT of state you can file necessary paperwork to either change your state of residency to avoid such taxes. Do you think for (1) minute if the entire Military left this area the "locals" would assume all the taxes and a big recession. Hampton Roads is over 50% Military. Per your comment, "Military members who aren't VA residents are exempt from VA state income taxes, but aren't exempt from local and state sales, use, or property taxes, especially if they own property and/or have a vehicle registered in VA." Anywhere you go you are going to be responsible for grocery/fuel/Real Estate/retail taxes (if you are here). Military members are exempt from 50% of the taxes here because they're not VA residents. The locals have to pick up the tab for the difference that isn't covered. We DO NOT need toll roads in this heavily congested area.

First off the military blather is nonsense and way over used. If it's so great a life then I suggest you join for all the super deals.

My main point is I would rather have temporay tolls placed on anything instead of permanent taxes that once invoked are almost never cancelled. It's a temporary user tax yes, and my only concern is is the flow of traffic. In the days of RT-44 tolls the boths were a traffic jam nightmare, untold amounts of money were used in the myriad of fender benders while in line or thru the booth. Plus it cost lives like the fiery cradsh killing a family returning home form vacation after getting rear-ended. That was when it the population was much less. But with electronic booths to keep it smooth i would be okay paying user tolls for the greater gain of better off/on ramps and smoother roads to travel, as well as the end of the toll when it's paid for.

With all the democrats voted in, what do you expect?
We can't go to our employers and ask for more money every time we can't make ends meet, why should the elected leaders? Government collects enough from us. Lets see:
Elected officials .. HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax
Gasoline Tax
Gas guzzler tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Su rcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Su rcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Lo

Hampton Roads is a region with roughly 1.6 million residents. Total military and civilian defense-related employment in Hampton Roads is around 111,000 people,i.e, less than 10% of the area's population (not 60% as you stated). Military members who aren't residents of Virginia are exempt from VA state income taxes, but aren't exempt from local and state sales, use, or property taxes, especially if they own property and/or have a vehicle registered in VA. Flashing an active duty ID does not exempt you from taxes at the local gas pump, grocery store, department store, or your favorite fast food joint. Don't for one minute think that the military members who live here aren't shelling out tax dollars the same as the rest of us. And just to throw this in - military members who are VA residents, but are stationed out of state, are still required to pay state income taxes to VA even though they don't reside here~!

There will also be increased revenue from the traffic tickets issued to people who run the tolls as well as providing the State Police a place to cherry-pick drivers for inspection sticker tickets, expired plate tickets and other moneymakers for the state/city/prostitutes.

First we get rid of the I-44 (now I-264) Toll Road and NOW we're entertaining the thought (again) of bringing it back? As I understand this...it's up for a VOTE (by the People)...not a City/State Gov't Dictatorship. The more taxes that are imposed on a "Military Town" forces the residents to LEAVE and relocate elsewhere. The Military is EXEMPT from paying any taxes here. The locals get screwed. When a Servicemember completes their active duty...they'd be fools to stick around here for LOW wages. The Gov't needs to enforce the Military should be paying a subsidy to "offset" the locals that are paying the taxes because over 60% of Hampton Roads is Military who don't pay the local taxes. If you have the majority of "locals" leave....who do you get to pay taxes then? You just keep GOUGHING higher taxes in the local's pockets who stick around. Wrong. NO TAXATION without REPRESENTATION and WE have voters rights to say "NO" to toll roads!

If they make I-264 into a toll road once again is the city making to widen Shore Drive, Va Bach Blvd, Independence, Holland, Witchduck, Rosemont, Pa Anne and the other roads that will have a drastic increase in auto traffic. Get it out of your heads if you think Light Rail just running from downtown Norfolk to the Beach is going to do anything to relieve traffic, as most of the commuters are going to other areas of Hampton Roads. When light rail starts it will be a novelty and ALL those who want it will be exclaiming how great it is and see how many are using it, as light a new pair of shoes, you where them till you get bored and the newness wears off and you will start where your old shoes which never got discarded. The same with light rail, once the newness wears off the usage will diminish and then they will be raising the fares to cover the cost. I do not believe in putting tolls on roads that were already paid for and do not believe in putting them on I-264, JRB, Downtown/Midtown, or the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Only new roads.

The jobs are in Norfolk but people choose to live out in sprawlville. Somebody's got to pay to maintain the roads. Don't like the tolls? Stop being the ugly American gluttonous consumer, do the responsible thing and move back to the city center... Or ride the light rail when it arrives.

You sure did pay of Route 44, but is the maintenance fully paid for? Nope. I miss sitting in line to drop my quarter in knowing I was paying to keep the road in shape. I don't mind taking the new 168 expressway to NC, it's worth $4 (round trip). I don't mind taking the Jordan Bridge at $0.75...beats sitting at a tunnel any day (and btw, I got into Portsmouth in 5 minutes, not 30, using the Jordan). You cry babies sure want a free lunch, don't you. Things cost money!

We can thank the republicans for preapproving every single tax, fee and toll that arises from the roads bill and their new increased bureaucracy.

why dont we all just revert back to the horse and buggy,heck with the gas prices and taxes and now they want a new toll wed all be better off.BUT wait a sec then wed probably have the poo poo clean up tax.and the prices of hay would go up 200%,darn,and it was such a good idea too,guess its time for some new walkin shoes.

Well since the majority has started to vote more democrats in office in the cites and state look what you get. People who vote democrat don't complain about it, you all wanted it. For Christ sakes Meyra Oberndorff should have been gone along time ago with her democrat city council... Next time vote REPUBLICAN won't you.

from a true REPUBLICAN HERE.

The tolls that were on I-264 in Va Beach were finally removed after Gov. George Allen found out that the project had been paid for 15 years prior. And imagine that.... those tolls would have never been removed if it were up to all of the liberal tax and spenders. What did they do with all of that money for those 15+ years. They squandered it. Same way they will do again. The tolls will never get removed once all projects are paid for. Can I have George back please!

Gee....what do you thing you pay for with every gallon of gas? The state tax on gas is "supposed" to be used to maintain the roads. So ask your ellected official where that money goes? See what kinda DUH he as to say then!

I certainly agree with the majority of the previous comments. The politicians will institute a shell game to get the revenue one way or another. Let's not let them include tolls.

Let's throw out all the politicians who put forth the same old tired ideas, like bringing back tolls on local roads. Time is money folks. Tolls only slow down our commute. Even with EZ Pass technology, tolls are an antiquated approach to solving transportation ills. We need leadership with vision. We need someone who can see beyond the ornaments adorning the vehicle in front of them or the low riding pants on our teenagers. Stick to important issues and stop coming up with inane ideas like scarlet license plates for 3 time dui offenders. There are much more important issues being overlooked.

Build a light rail line paralelling I-264. You can then ride the route for $1.50 versus driving at a $2.85 toll plus gas.

This is what you get when you whine about excessive fees for bad drivers. Now everybody will get hit, not just the ones who don't obey the laws. Thanks, folks. If you buy a house, you pay for it, but you have to keep paying for upkeep. Don't sit there and talk about the roads being paid for. How are you going to keep them in shape? That's a "duh" if ever I heard one.

What part of no tolls does the vb council not get? How many times do the citizens have to be ignored before we vote these bozos off council? Interstate 264 is paid for. It is part of the federal interstate system. How do they think they can slap tolls on an interstate highway at their whim? People, these lifetime council members are up for re-election in November. RENO! Re-Elect No One!!

An old saying goes "It's not part of the government culture to just lay in the grass, but to tell the people what their views will be." Hope there is a $100.00 per week pay raise coming for everyone to cover these too. $100 income - $28 tax = $61.70 per month in tolls or $741 per year.

Soon we'll be paying to back out of our driveway! Cut the spending and you'll find money to repair roads! Do we have any leadership at any level of government? Tax, tax, tax that's all they understand. Try to cut spending, cut spending, cut spending!