Florida House passes private toll road bill

Florida House passes private toll road bill    Following a course that has created controversy in other states, the Florida House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill that would allow the state to sell the rights to operating some toll roads to private sector companies, and to have private sector companies build some new roads.
   The House voted along straight party lines, 74-40, with Republicans favoring the plan, and all Democrats in opposition.
   HB 7033 would not apply to the Florida Turnpike or the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County. However, a private company could lease the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, impacting some truckers moving international freight.
   The concept behind private sector participation in toll road is to have specialty companies lease toll roads to provide the state immediate income, and to have such companies build new roads the state might have difficulty funding. The private sector companies would use the roads to generate income.
   Many Republicans around the nation support the concept as an efficient way to meet the demand for new highways, but environmental groups, truck drivers — including the Teamsters union — and many trucking companies oppose the idea. Opponents say that with roads controlled by private contractors, users would not have the some input on a number of road-related issues that are possible with state-controlled highways.
   Indiana has already approved a private sector toll road, the Chicago Skyway, which is operated by an Australian-Spanish consortium. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are considering similar proposals.
   The Florida Department of Transportation is already turning to private sector companies to build the proposed Port of Miami tunnel.
   Now that the Florida toll road bill has passed the House, it will be taken up by the Senate.