Disabled Veterans Won’t Get to Drive Free on Some Tollways
The massive network of managed toll lanes being added to Dallas-Fort Worth area highways is supposed to give drivers a seamless new system of choice in mobility.
But thats not likely to hold true for wounded and disabled veterans. Those drivers are about to face a piecemeal system where some thoroughfares are free for them and others arent.
The situation is the result of two patchwork systems. The first is a state law that allows, but doesnt require, tolling agencies to waive fees for certain veterans. The second is a network of toll projects in North Texas with a myriad of financial structures and operating procedures.
The 2009 state law applies to drivers who have disabled veteran, Purple Heart or Legion of Valor specialty license plates. The Texas Department of Transportation waives veterans tolls on the DFW Connector near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
TxDOT officials say the waiver will also apply on new managed toll lanes being added to Interstates 30 and 35E, State Highways 114 and 183 in Dallas County and Loop 12.
The state also owns LBJ Freeway, Interstate 35W and State Highway 183 in Tarrant County. Those are also having managed toll lanes added. But the tolls on those roads wont be free because developers who helped finance the projects own the managed lanes.
You would think if they were going to give an exemption they would give it across the various state toll roads, said Dallas businessman and Vietnam veteran B.G. Burkett.
Meanwhile, the North Texas Tollway Authoritys agreements with bondholders forbid offering any free rides. Legion of Valor members are exempt, but technically their tolls arent waived theyre covered by sponsor Volvo of Dallas.
To comply with bond agreements and still offer the waivers, the NTTA is considering asking state lawmakers to cover the cost of the free rides.
There has to be funding for it, said NTTA spokesman Michael Rey.
The agency in 2010 estimated that waiving the tolls would come with more than $6.7 million in lost revenue. More than 21,000 veterans in an eight-county area would qualify.
Its very unfortunate there are that many disabled veterans, Rey said.
While Burkett thinks the system should be more uniform, he has some concerns about such waivers. Burkett wrote Stolen Valor, a meticulously researched book that looked at fraudulent claims of military service. He supports benefits for disabled veterans but said there are scores of people who exaggerate their military service or their injuries and disability status.
Anytime you offer something free, its like flies to the meat, he said. The frauds just go flowing in.
TxDOT plans to ask legislators next year for $1.7 million out of the general fund to finance its waiver program. The Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees TxDOT, agreed to that provision Thursday. Victor Vandergriff was the only commissioner to vote against the legislative agenda. The veteran waiver was part of the reason.
Vandergriff said his opposition has nothing to do with veterans.
I recognize and appreciate their service just as others acknowledge that, he said.
He described the exception as a slippery slope that could lead to more waivers and, eventually, more requests to the Legislature to help fund the programs.
You could pretty soon look for pretty significant dollars to be expended by the Legislature for reimbursements, he said.
Tags: Veterans News
