Another example of government unable to cut back when times are tough. Instead of cutting back spending like real families do when times get tough, government simply raises taxes, fees or the tax rate.

This is yet another reason why you don't want the government involved in anything that isn't explicitly enumerated in the federal or state constitution. Once a government entity gets involved in something, whatever agency created to administer whatever program(s) created to "handle the issue" grows (metastasizes to be accurate) into a bloated, nanny-like bureaucracy that chips away at our personal freedoms, all under the guise of "its for the [children, elderly, public good]". When someone points out the program or agency isn't working (Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, anyone?), we are told that the program/agency was started "with good intentions" and our attempts to pass judgment on the "actual results" perpetrated by that program/agency is cruel or cold-hearted.

Posted by obviously (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 3:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Um, the Dulles Greenway is privately owned, as stated in the article.

Posted by dingus3 (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OBVIOUSLY, reading is not a strong point. ;)

Posted by t8erman (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Greenway is a private road. It has never received any taxpayer dollars. It is not a monopoly. If drivers do not want to pay the toll there are alternate routes. You can drive First Class on the finest road in Virginia, or drive Coach on Rt. 7, Rt. 50, or the back roads. In the past few years the Greenway has added an additional lane in each direction, added additional toll booths, four or more interchanges, and resurfaced the entire road. This road does not have the highest toll per mile as some have alleged. Nor is the option of the State of Virginia buying the road realistic. This is a true free market test. If drivers opt for less expensive alternative routes, opt for car pooling, bus transportation, or telecommuting everyone wins, and the taxpayers save millions.

Posted by jimh (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The Greenway and the Toll Road are both monuments to our governments inability to plan for the necessary infrastructure to support growth. Both roads are required, ( just try going from Weihle Avenue in Reston to Eldon Street in Herndon during the day via local roads ) and should be as free to use as the overcrowded and traffic light laden Rt 7. Continuing to jack up the tolls is just plain old extortion! These should be county roads with no or minimal tolls!

Posted by jrg2 (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not that I am a proponent of the Greenway, but the Board of Supervisors in Loudoun were offered an opportunity to reduce the fares in exchange for freezing the property taxes. They declined...So we pay higher tolls for Hatrick's house.

Posted by jklaw (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I stopped using the greenway years ago and just deal with the traffic on RT7.

Posted by mazman128 (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Only the wealthy may afford to use our road. The rest of you are sentenced to congestion. What a wonderful attitude. This middle-class driver is sentenced to congestion with the rest of the serfs.

Posted by MikeL4 (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's right, Mike. You're also "sentenced" to a smaller house, a smaller bank account, fewer vacations, an older, less expensive car, a less prestigious school for your kids, etc., etc. It's called capitalism and the free market. Some people work hard and get the rewards, some don't. Deal.

Posted by dingus3 (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You do you have a choice.

- use Rt 7
- Trade in the McMansion and move in closer to a 3/2 br condo with metro access.
- Pay the man his money

When you move out here, you had to know the consequences.

Posted by katliu1 (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is it just me or is it totally NOT worth paying $6 (RT) to save 10 minutes of driving? Granted, traffic on the roads us peasants take totally sucks. Do you get a "happy" exit with that?

Posted by OhTheHumanity (anonymous) on December 11, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)