To The Editor:
Shame on Oz Griebel and the MetroHartford Alliance for encouraging higher gasoline taxes and motor vehicle tolls on our roads in his column, “Gas Tax Hike, Tolls Urgently Needed” (Jan. 12).
With the local, state, national and world economies in recession, it is at least imprudent, if not irresponsible, to raise taxes on the small businesses and small business customers who are the primary users of our roads.
Indeed, small business makes up the bulk of our gross domestic product, and the last thing small businesses need now is additional tax burdens. The idea that a supposed business advocacy organization would lead the charge for such things is beyond comprehension.
The “Holy Grails” of enhanced rail service and bus ways, so popular with certain political elements, ignores the lifestyle preferences of most Americans, and they should not be paid for by American drivers.
Drivers value the freedom, independence and income production potential that personal vehicle use confers.
They will never give up that autonomy. Never.
Utopian mass transit schemes such as this work well only in densely populated areas, such as New York, Boston and Philadelphia.
Even Minneapolis, Minn., with an urban population of 372,833 and a metropolitan area population of 2,968,806 (2000 census data) has been unable to achieve profitability with the light rail system it put in place at a cost of $73 million.
Minneapolis and its metropolitan area are roughly twice and three times, respectively, that of Hartford (124,512) and the Hartford metropolitan area (1,188,841). If their mass transit rail system is not profitable, how will ours be?
If rail or bus companies believe they can profit from these proposals, let them put up the funds to pay for them. These schemes should not be paid for by taxation on those who choose a different method of transit.
Finally, and with respect to tolls, there are the environmental and quality of life issues that will arise as local traffic inevitably shifts to local roads such as Routes 4, 6, 44, 202 and others to avoid the tolls.
To lead us out of economic hard times, government needs to spend less and do less. Business organizations should remember who they serve and avoid political entanglement. MetroHartford Alliance, heal thyself!
Arnold L. Goldman
Canton
