SUPPORT FOR the SA anti-toll-road brigade comes from the American Automobile Association (AAA).
This was in response to President Bill Clinton's proposed US$175-billion (R770-bn), six-year plan to improve the nation's highways, bridges and mass transit systems. A proposal to allow states to impose new tolls on highways - described by US Transportation Secretary Rodney E Slater as a minor suggestion - was slammed by the AAA.
The AAA was unalterably opposed to interstate tolls, association vice-president James L Kolstad told Washington Post. The public has already paid for these roads through the 18,3 cents-per-gallon federal gas (petrol) tax, he said. Adding tolls is double taxation, clear and simple. A similar argument was used here when - in the mid-70s - toll-roads began to be seen as the best way to raise cash for future road replacement, repair and maintenance. While part of the fuel price has always been a road levy, this ceased to be a dedicated fund for road building, and was fed instead into the general kitty of government income.
But the ardent anti-toll faction may yet be appeased.
In an early-April announcement, director general of transport, Ketso Gordhan, said that a private sector roads agency was proposed to take over the Transport Department's national roads activities. This, he added, would take care of the 7 000 kilometres of national roads, take control of the 650 kms of toll roads already in operation, and be responsible for any future concessions.
The promising part of the announcement is that the department is investigating a 0,6 cent fuel levy - dedicated to funding roads.
