WHEREAS excessive tolls for the Emerald Mountain Toll Bridge and the Alabama River Parkway in Elmore County are nuisances to the people.
WHEREAS in order for the flow of traffic and therefore the safety of the people to be truly free in Elmore County, Alabama, these toll bridges must come under a regulating authority.
WHEREAS certain circumstances have arisen whereby emergency systems needed passage, yet various news reports indicate that those vehicles were stopped from traversing the bridge until a toll was paid, ultimately threatening the lives of the people within.
WHEREAS other natural disasters or national crises may occur on an even greater scale which could result in a greater threat to the safety of the people.
WHEREAS commerce between adjoining counties is a must for the economic prosperity of the people in the “River Region” and should not be hindered.
WHEREAS history has proven that toll roads and bridges tend to become more and more expensive to customers as time progresses, that often they become dilapidated due to a lack of maintenance, that some toll operators demand noncompete agreements so that states cannot build other passageways nearby - essentially creating a monopoly, and that some toll operators go bankrupt forcing governments to take over the thoroughfare.
WHEREAS global warming is a threat to the planet and oil resources are limited, and financial barriers that are created which cause people to avoid them increase greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption and should not be tolerated.
WHEREAS it has been reported that Governor Bob Riley has unfortunately endorsed the use of corporate toll roads in Alabama, and other Republican politicians that represent Elmore County have not done enough to protect its people from the corporatization of our roads.
WHEREAS it is the right of the people to bring under its authority roadways and bridges that adversely affect the flow of commerce and the safety of the people.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Elmore County Democratic Executive Committee calls forth its legislature to pass a bill which would give regulatory authority over private toll operators in Alabama to the Public Service Commission.
The committee voted unanimously for the resolution.
WHEREAS in order for the flow of traffic and therefore the safety of the people to be truly free in Elmore County, Alabama, these toll bridges must come under a regulating authority.
WHEREAS certain circumstances have arisen whereby emergency systems needed passage, yet various news reports indicate that those vehicles were stopped from traversing the bridge until a toll was paid, ultimately threatening the lives of the people within.
WHEREAS other natural disasters or national crises may occur on an even greater scale which could result in a greater threat to the safety of the people.
WHEREAS commerce between adjoining counties is a must for the economic prosperity of the people in the “River Region” and should not be hindered.
WHEREAS history has proven that toll roads and bridges tend to become more and more expensive to customers as time progresses, that often they become dilapidated due to a lack of maintenance, that some toll operators demand noncompete agreements so that states cannot build other passageways nearby - essentially creating a monopoly, and that some toll operators go bankrupt forcing governments to take over the thoroughfare.
WHEREAS global warming is a threat to the planet and oil resources are limited, and financial barriers that are created which cause people to avoid them increase greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption and should not be tolerated.
WHEREAS it has been reported that Governor Bob Riley has unfortunately endorsed the use of corporate toll roads in Alabama, and other Republican politicians that represent Elmore County have not done enough to protect its people from the corporatization of our roads.
WHEREAS it is the right of the people to bring under its authority roadways and bridges that adversely affect the flow of commerce and the safety of the people.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Elmore County Democratic Executive Committee calls forth its legislature to pass a bill which would give regulatory authority over private toll operators in Alabama to the Public Service Commission.
The committee voted unanimously for the resolution.
