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Why Am I Charged Tolls When I Already Pay Taxes to Maintain Roads? Gas taxes, vehicle registration fees and other taxes are not used to maintain and operate NTTA toll roads. Rather, NTTA toll roads are funded largely through the sales of bonds that are repaid by collecting tolls from motorists who use the road.
The Texas Legislature and regional transportation officials have made a decision to rely on toll roads as a way to advance much needed mobility projects. The transportation needs of our region continue to grow as more and more people move to North Texas. As long as drivers need additional mobility choices and the nation, state and region need help funding them, toll roads remain an option.
Toll roads are one of the most financially viable options to immediately relieve congestion, as state and federal funds continue to dwindle. This has been demonstrated by the state’s inability to index the motor fuels tax, resulting in a decline in the ability to build and maintain tax‐funded Texas roads.
If tolls were eliminated permanently, there are very limited state funds available to maintain the roads in their current smooth, safe and high quality manner.
The entire region benefits from the mobility choices provided by the NTTA through congestion relief, added jobs and the economic development spurred by transportation solutions. Individual drivers benefit through a consistent, safe and predictable commute with the added value of time savings.
Toll roads are a mechanism to get roads built faster. The President George Bush Turnpike was built 10 years ahead of schedule as a toll road.
Some studies also say toll roads actually can decrease the pressure to increase the gas tax or free up gas tax dollars for other projects. For example, the $3.2 billion NTTA paid for the right to operate construct and maintain the Sam Rayburn Tollway is being used throughout the region to fund many municipal and county projects.
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