Toll system out of control
Re: “Toll Trap: How Texas’ explosive growth led to a toll-building spree,” Dallas Morning News online story.
Kudos to The Dallas Morning News for taking a hard look at Texas’ out-of- control toll road system. There are too many toll roads charging too much. And those who claim these roads are merely an option are wrong. These costs are borne by all of us.
Because Rick Perry didn’t raise the fuel taxes, he gave away the store to private operators. These highway barons got concession contracts for 50 years to collect toll fees. Which pushover made those deals? So really our toll money is paying some European outfits.
These contracts also created a huge opportunity cost by blocking the Texas Department of Transportation from expanding capacity of nearby free lanes. Then, the Legislature empowered toll agencies to criminalize unpaid fees. The agencies offloaded their job to Texas courts, which get clogged with poor drivers who don’t understand the fine print.
And of course, a disproportionate percentage getting railroaded are minorities, or “deadbeats,” according to North Texas Tollway Authority.
Jason Nancarrow, Dallas
Tolls give us better roads
I am very pleased to pay more when I use a Texas tollway. Particularly in Dallas and Houston, they make the drives safer and more comfortable for me. I am 79 years old and I think paying more for the tollways allows for more and better roads to be built.
Charles Doty, Austin
Compassion for hungry
Re: “Texans going hungry — New report shows state among most food-insecure, even surpassing California,” Thursday news story.
I was shocked and saddened to read this front-page article in The Dallas Morning News detailing how Texas leads the nation in households that cannot regularly afford basic food needs. It is especially disturbing since Texas, the ninth-largest economy in the world, has a current $32.7 billion budget surplus.
I can only wish that Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (an avowed Christian) showed as much compassion and support for these marginalized families and individuals as they do for embryos and fetuses.
Tom Price, McKinney
Trace the money
Re: “Gamble on big money is backfiring — Unlimited donations are making political parties too vulnerable to special interests,” by Matt Howerton and Ann Drumm, Tuesday Opinion.
Thank you, Dallas Morning News, for printing this opinion piece. The big money in politics issue is getting more attention lately. Our in-boxes are crowded with pleas for campaign contributions. This trend will build to a crescendo as we near the November election.
We open our wallets and contribute to our favorite candidates whose positions on issues are consistent with our own. But the truth is the big donors will have a far greater influence on how we are governed, despite all the campaign promises of those we support.
Polls of public sentiment on gun safety, reproductive rights, the environment and other issues seem to have no impact on bills introduced and passed. Most voters would be shocked to learn who is contributing big bucks to political campaigns.
If you really want to know who has the greatest influence on how we are governed and where the money comes from, visit the nonpartisan website www.opensecrets.org. Dig around a little and you will quickly discover the true agendas of those donors. Do this before you vote, and then support legislation to put curbs on campaign finance.
Joan M. Ridley, Old East Dallas
Applies to justices, too
Re: “Democrats, Watch Your House — Corruption cases demand self-reflection from party,” Thursday editorial.
I don’t disagree overall — we should all denounce dirty politics. But the statement “If you are letting someone other than your family help you pay for a house or a luxury car, then you shouldn’t be in public office” brings to mind Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Where’s that outcry? Some of our Supreme Court justices have become more loyal to a particular political party than to their own sense of ethics.
Betty Boyd Meis, Dallas
Happy to keep chief
Re: “García pledges to stay till ‘27 — Officials jubilant; chief says broad support in city ‘is a precious gift,’” Friday news story.
Congratulations to the city of Dallas for stepping up and sending those other cities packing! I knew Chief Eddie García was the right choice when he arrived in 2021 and promptly bought his family Dallas Cowboys jerseys!
Ann Marron-Clark, University Park
Limit airport gates to fliers
Re: “Remember the days of open airports? Nonticketed visitors are meeting flyers at some gates, but risks and TSA resources must be considered,” by Sheldon H. Jacobson, Wednesday Opinion.
Regarding Jacobson’s suggestion for opening airport security to nonpassengers, no, no, no.
As a regular passenger, with TSA PreCheck, I have experienced long lines in Denver, Seattle and Dallas-Fort Worth and know that adding people wanting to meet their relatives at the gate will further bog down the already tedious process of airport screening. The only rationale for implementing this is, of course, money — increasing the parking and concession revenue for the airports and their mall-like tenants.
As it is, DFW International Airport has restricted the PreCheck entry points to only one at Terminals B, C, and D, with two in A (check dfwairport.com/security).
As DFW limits the number of entry points, the airport continues to promote the PreCheck option to sign up more travelers. Additionally, there seems to be little uniformity in the way TSA agents follow the rules, and enforcement policies seem to vary from airport to airport. And, at DFW, they vary from terminal to terminal, further slowing the process.
Adding nontravelers to the mix will certainly increase the already onerous wait times. Let us put that idea to rest.
Hans F. Voorn, Frisco
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