Former State Representative: No need for tolls on Border West Expressway
A former lawmaker instrumental in having tolls removed from the Border Highway told ABC-7 future tolls are not needed in the new stretch of Loop 375 in Downtown and West El Paso.
ABC-7 found several signs along loop 375, one of those right in front of Bowie High School.
The Border West Expressway, which will extend from Santa Fe street in Downtown to Racetrack in the Upper Valley, is scheduled to be completed this summer.
That’s when drivers will likely see those toll lanes go up.
The purpose of the expressway is to reduce traffic on I-10.
Former State Representative Joe Pickett told ABC-7 money collected from those tolls will not go to pay for the construction of the Border West Expressway because the new highway is already paid for and there is no debt on that highway.
Furthermore, Pickett predicts drivers will avoid paying that toll.
“There’s gonna be more people not using it, than using it. So the congestion on Interstate 10 won’t get any better because the majority will not choose to use the toll. They’re just not gonna do it. We proved that already,” said Pickett. Pickett was key in bringing down tolls on the Border Highway before. The former legislator hopes state lawmakers will stop tolls from going up on the Border West Expressway. Raymond Telles, with Camino Real Regional Mobility, told ABC-7 revenue from the tolls will be used to maintain the expressway.
