Roundabouts not good for semis

Published 9:21 am Monday, February 9, 2015

I feel the need to respond to the letter to the editor of Jan. 20. This was written by Paul Marquart, deputy minority leader and state representative for District 4B in Minneapolis. The writer was very critical of Rep. Peggy Bennett and the Republican party action on Minnesota road and bridge spending. 

Mr. Marquart says projections show a need for $6 billion in the next 10 years. That being said, I have to remind the writer that his party has pretty much controlled Minnesota policy for the past 40 years. His party spent six times as much money on a new Senate office building as they did on our roads and bridges last year. Maybe they should have done a better job when they were the majority party.

As a trucking company owner for the past six-plus decades, I have seen too much road money diverted to other uses. I have seen gas, fuel, oil, rubber, excise taxes, highway use taxes, license fees, wheel taxes, temporary taxes turned into permanent taxes, as a partial list of taxes on my industry. I have heard the cries of woe every few years for increase in taxes. Never once has the tax for road money ever been accounted for. Never once has it been mentioned that vehicles traveling on our roadway have quadrupled, whereby bringing in more taxes.

Email newsletter signup

I have seen road money spent on things that some people lobby for, that have nothing to do with roads and bridges. I, and my people, face disaster each and every day, driving on our crumbling roads and bridges because of poor judgment in the spending side of our tax dollars. A good example right here in Albert Lea is the push for roundabouts to save money on stoplights. How much does it cost to construct a roundabout? How much would four stationary stop signs cost? Have YOU ever attempted to navigate a roundabout with a 75-foot long 18-wheeler? Well, I have many times. There is just not enough room. That little auto driver cannot understand why I am stealing his lane! Of course, insurance companies will say roundabouts are safer. Do the math, a stop light run causing a T-bone accident could run $100,000. Twenty-five roundabout side swipes may cost $75,000. Each vehicle has deductibles from owners to pay. This leaves the insurance industry with less to pay out. Of course they will opt for the roundabout.

A stationary stop sign would leave all lanes open to turning vehicles and would not bottleneck traffic, being cheaper for the taxpayer. Of course that could be just too simple for a bureaucrat to understand.

 

Joseph Becker

Becker Hi-Way Frate

Albert Lea