In recent months since Miller Myers and I started Roll Back Tolls we have talked to hundreds of people that have many different views and opinions about the new MDX tolls on 874, 878 and 924. Many, including myself were not happy to see the new tolls going up. I as others was upset that we now have to participate in paying the tolls when we never did before. We have seen comments on our website and Facebook page stating that we are just bitter about this new reality when in fact many of the people south of the 874 have been paying the full price for many years. Believe me we have gotten an earful from this group south of 874. And we have listened and have posted their comments to our website. After all we want to be a resource for all views and opinions regarding the many transportation issues facing our community.
In our many communications and meetings with MDX we have been told that the new tolls allow for a more equal and “fairer” method for everyone to pay their fair share. Well, since MDX now is on this crusade to level the toll paying playing field we should ask them to do the same for us. You see, MDX is collecting a lot more revenue from the added tolls on 874 and 878 than before, thanks to O.R.T. (open road tolling technology). From our estimation 10-30% more toll revenue, especially when you factor that they no longer have to hire toll collectors, construct toll plazas, collect, handle and count cash, etc.
Our Solution:
A fair and equitable solution would be to “roll back” the overall toll rates on these roads by the exact percentage of increased revenue generated from the additional toll sites/gantries. As an example, the toll rate for traveling the full length of the 874 from the turnpike to the Palmetto/Bird Road is currently $1.00. Reducing this by say 25%, from the added revenue MDX now collects, would lower the cost from $1.00 to .75 cents. This would help all toll payers and especially those south of the 874 that have been carrying the full burden of the tolls for many years. In this example MDX could “roll back” the toll rate before Bird Road from .50 to .25 cents. And additionally roll back the rates on 878 as well so that the total cost of traveling the full length of 874 to Bird or to US1 would equal the new “rolled back” rate of .75 cents. Moreover, this could be done with little to no additional implementation expense to MDX. Just push a few buttons, click, click, click on the O.R.T. computers and presto! Fairness for all!
We realize there are no FREE roads. I am reminded of this every time I fill up may gas tank or look at my Sun Pass bill. No one is asking for a free ride on MDX’s roads. We would though appreciate a better effort in communicating with the toll paying public from now on. Especially if MDX wants us to pay the mortgage for many years into the future.
I would hope that the top brass at MDX take this practical solution to heart and look at it for it’s fairness and worthiness. It’s time MDX show some compassion to its customers, if that’s who we are, during these challenging economic times.
As always we welcome your comments and suggestions which you may post by clicking on the “leave a comment” link below.
Carlos Garcia
Co-chair
RollBackTolls.com
You know I still don’t like paying the tolls. But this idea could work. Thought I think that they want to hold onto every single penny like the pigs they are. Just don’t use the damn toll roads. No MAS!
Even fairer would be to justify HONESTLY the imposition of a toll on a road where there has been none- that road leads to the metro rail station at Dadeland North. Supposedly one takes Metrorail to be environmentally correct and to save money on transportation, but NOW they have added a dollar a day to the commute. Patently unfair. let them roll back all the rates on the south part of 874 to offset their new found riches on 878 and even more-I say we ALL boycott the new tolls- I for one have only taken that flyover to US1 ONCE since the tolls were imposed. SHAME on them!!
Carlos, I want to thank you for the effort you are making in attempting to make MDX, a Dept of the Miami-Dade County Government, a better steward of the Taxpayers’ Money. However, we have found from experience, that Talking, Voting and Recalls don’t mean much to the people in County Government. If they want to show good faith, they must show how the entire operation was funded before the 1/2% Sales Tax and Proliferation/Increases in Tolls and Meters. Also, report the amount of money spent in new offices and onerous salaries and compensations. Anything short of that would create a farce of honesty and fairness.
Jorge,
Thank you for your comment. Tax payer money?? No, MDX does not take tax payer money, so they have told us. So they really don’t have to answer to anyone. This is why we feel strongly that they need to be regulated in some way. They simply have too much power over the roads and this not in the best interest of the community. Though, I will say that these tolls are really taxes disguised as “user fees”. Which is the hot little buzz word over at MDX world head quarters. There’s one straight from the “No Child Left Behind” play book.
I agree with your idea and would include 878 in the equation. One 25 cent toll on that road is enough for the distance traveled. I think alot of commuters from south of 152nd Street are now taking US1 rather pay those extra tolls. One of my coworkers drives downtown and leaves her home a 7 AM and it now takes her over 1 1/2 hours and she is still late for an 8:30 AM shift.
I feel that Snapper Creek or 878 was built many years ago and I paid for them back then in my taxes, so now why should I have to pay for them again. It’s like our county commission leasdr Dennis Moss is trying to pas something where the county will start putting up meter’s all over for parking. When is enough just plain enough. Let these clowns at MDX cut the fat from their salaries and not just pass it on to us all the time, wish I had a job where I could retire after 25 years.
WE ARE BEING TAXED AND TOLLED TO DEATH IF THE ECONOMY WAS GOOD AND WE WERE ALL MAKING LOTS OF MONEY IT WOULD NOT HURT BUT IT STINKS AND YOU GUYS NEED TO FIND A WAY TO STOP WASTING OUR TAX REVENUES RUN YOUR BUSINESS LIKE A BUSINESS NOT A MONEY PRINTING MACHINE(US PAYING MORE AND MORE TAXES) WISH I COULD JUST KEEP CHARGING MORE AND MORE FOR MY SERVICES AND PEOPLE JUST HAD TO PAY IT NOT FAIR NOT HAPPY
Thank You Rollback tolls.com for taking a stand! We as citizens and taxpayers must stand up and fight! We have to let MDX and our elected officials know that we will not take these new tolls and the amount they are charging lying down….if we do then we should have nothing to say when they start putting up tolls on Kendall Drive!!!
Pingback: A recent e-mail reply to members of Kendall Federation of Homeowners regarding MDX. -by RollBackTolls.comRollBackTolls.com