The Texas Legislature is debating a law that would abolish a little known clause in state transportation law that allows High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, like ones being built on the expansion of US 281 north of Loop 1604, to be converted into toll lanes if high occupancy vehicle traffic falls, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Under current law, the lanes could be transformed into toll lanes without a vote or any public input whatsoever, just on the whim of bureaucrats.
State Sen Bob Hall (R-Granbury) says that's not right.
"No Texan should have to submit to double taxation, and pay to drive on a road that was built with his or her tax dollars," Hall said.
Anti toll activist Terri Hall, who is no relation to Sen. Hall, says she is particularly concerned about the HOV lanes planned for 281.
"This bait and switch, or 'sleeper gotcha' clause, must be eliminated," Terri Hall told the Legislature. "This must be revoked to protect taxpayers from double taxation, and used as a sneaky way to implement tolls when the public is not looking."
The 281 HOV lanes are means to smooth the operation of mass transit, and to encourage motorists to carpool. But many local observers say the lanes, the first of their kind in Bexar County, will be unused, and that will allow bureaucrats the opportunity to switch them in the dark of night into toll lanes.
"To Texans should be deprived of their hard earned money to increase bureaucratic slush funds with no accountability," Sen. Hall said.