People want improved roads, bridges, and tunnels. But they don't want tolls. They don't want higher taxes. And they don't want to cut other programs and shift that funding to transportation.

So the end result is the inaction that has long plagued the region. Can't have it all, folks...something's gotta give.

But it doesn't make sense to have a free enterprise view of necessary infrastructure. Doc Tabor, don't even libertarians hold that infrastructure issues must be handled by government, so that we can all pay in to support those things we all use? Otherwise, I could say I never go to Suffolk, so I shouldn't owe any state money to maintain the roads there, right? I mean we can't just make roads "pay as you go" (if you telecommute and never leave your home, you don't owe any road taxes) . . .

BTW I think the tax issue before the revolution was not so much that the taxes were high, but that they were levied without any input from the taxpayers. We have a lot of taxes, and we waste a good deal of money on inefficiencies, like all large organizations, public or private. But as far as roads go, they are expensive. And everyone wants to drive everywhere like it is a God given right. So, we build and maintain, and then we build some more. But we create drivers faster than we create roadways. As such, the citizenry demands more to avoid traffic jams, and the dance goes on and on.
Europe had the right idea decades ago. Keep the cost of personal transportation high to encourage alternative means such as trains, buses, walking, living in town or near work, bicycles, etc. All we wanted was to sell more, larger and inefficient cars. That worked well. So now, the 50 billion or so we didn't want to spend on public transportation, more roads, and the like is going to be pumped into some failed and poorly managed auto industry. If we have the money for this, why didn't we have it for better mass transit?

Portsmouth is not inaccessible due to some conspiracy or racism – There’s WATER all around it! I purposely avoid going anywhere near the tunnels during rush hours because they’re all backed up. This doesn’t make me maniacal or racist, but practical. The burden then becomes Portsmouth’s to fix this – not general tax payers. You saw the water when you moved there, right?

This leads me to ask the question. What do mine or our state income tax, sales tax, real estate tax, personal property tax, federal income tax, gasoline tax, business tax, payroll tax, Inheritance Tax, Caprital gains tax, Excise tax, road and toll booth tax, telephone recurring, nonrecurring, surcharge, minimum usage surcharge, usage charge TAXES, trailer registration tax, Utility Taxes, Vehicle License Registration Tax, just to name a few pay for anymore? I mean dont get me wrong I dont mind paying my "fair" share but what for exactly? If not infrastructure then where does it go?

It's hard to believe America was founded to avoid high taxation. Has anyone looked at how much real estate taxes are lately? A 400K home almost runs you 400 bucks a month just in "taxes"!!! Tolls? I dont think so!!!

Len is right. The idea of turning our basic transportation arteries over to private profit based corporations is impractical. Tolls may be needed to fund upkeep of the tunnels but that can be done without involving private interests who would need to turn a profit at our expense by padding tolls and skimping on maintenance. Tabor once again puts his ideology before common sense or public interests.

between two roads going to and from different parts of 2 cities and will always be at capacity because there are no viable alternatives? Essentially you will have a private oligopoly, keeping fees higher to provide profit for investors, salaries, bonuses etc. So the question is not monopoly versus competition, but rather the most cost effective monopoly for the area. The tolls can be more reasonable with public financing since the cost will be spread among all the beneficiaries of a better access system, not just those who drive through the tunnels. All residents of both cities, drivers or not, will benefit by better access, commerce, less pressure on local streets, evacuation routes etc., and as such, public financing is the more equitable route.

I think a toll on both tunnels is a horrible idea. It has the potential to choke the economy. It is an artery that will benefit the whole state, and therefore, state funds should be used. If you are going to toll, toll one and leave the other without a toll.

That's a red herring. I won't respond. Rant away

Mike, How exactly would spending $6 Billion on western connectors for the Port improve the congestion between Portsmouth and the cites to the East?

Len & Noon, Can you point to an instance where a monopoly has charged less for a service than competing suppliers?