The Florida Turnpike

[jiacinto]

Why, south of the Lantana Toll Plaza, are there tolls like every two miles? It costs like $3.00 go to from North Dade County to Homestead!

[TSIAS]

1. It is expensive

Do you have Sunpass? If you drive it regularly, it does save time.

[jiacinto]

2. A ripoff

It requires a $25 purchase and then you have to add money to it.

[TSIAS]

3. It doesn't save money

I'm aware of the purchase fee. I like it because there's a special lane where you can just cruise through.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Another Florida rippoff..............

They like to brag about the fact that there is no state income tax in Florida. However, there are sooooooo many hidden "fees" involved in the State to make up for it that it's sickening. Registration for cars is twice that of most other states. It costs $5 just to get in and out of the Orlando airport because of tolls. That's if you don't park, then expect to pay a lot more. If you're a tourist in Florida they gouge the hell out of you with their taxes and "fees". I'm beginning to think I made a huge mistake moving here form New York. My discontent grows with each passing day. I love the weather, but the culture shock is immense. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger Jiacinto, I scratch my head everyday over the way things are done down here.

[cyclezealot]

7. I used to live in Florida.

I lived there for 14 years..I do not miss the climate. Right now we live in smokey San Diego County.. but then I remember how smokey it was there, when the Everglades went up .. Humidity, not my thing.. Heah, don't have to pay to heat, but electric bills there, to cool are $250 for eight months..
California does not have any turnpikes,so there will be no RR turnpike. But there will be enough other Reagan mementos to keep us ill. Eh god.. I used to live in the part of the state where Katherine Harris now reigns.. I thought something must be wrong with people who are impressed with Harris...And now California has its robo cop, as its leader. Must be some kind of virus...

[mikehiggins]

12. Where from NY?

I moved to Clearwater from Queens last year, after a fifteen year effort. Retired early, rented an apartment, got a vet for the cat, etc., etc.

I love it. I love the heat (that's why you have airconditioning) and the "no snow" and the wide open skies and the "no snow" and the people who smile and say hello and the "no snow" and (did I mention "no snow") much lower tax bills overall.

I don't think NY was any better on the fees, and NYC residents got to pay CITY income tax, as well as State and Federal taxes. Plus, my insurance on my Bonneville went down by nearly a thousand bucks (though that also was because I left my son behind in NYC) and neither my wife nor I have ever gotten a ticket.

I went to Outback with my wife and the whole check was $40 (not including tip). The exact same meal in NYC last year cost me over $75. And so on, and so on.

I have found it cheaper and more relaxing to live in Florida. Obviously your mileage may (and did) vary.

[TSIAS]

5. Remember, as well

This is the Ronald Reagan Turnpike.

:puke:

[ClintonTyree]

6. As a side thought...............

Have you read any of Tim Dorsey's books about the seemier side of Florida? They're a riot. "Orange Crush", "Florida Road Kill", "Triggerfish Twist", "Hammerhead Ranch Motel" and his newest offering "The Stingray Shuffle" are some brilliant and sardonic stories about Florida, the type of people it attracts, and the slow death of what once was Florida. Check out the Library. They're well worth the read. Funny as hell. And look out for Serge A. Storms when he's off his meds.

[RebelOne]

8. Why take the Turnpike?

Just go down U.S. 1. That's what I always did when I lived there.

[Scurrilous]

9. South Florida has always..

..taken it up the @ss from Tallahassee, especially in the highway department. You have to go way back to the good old days prior to the reapportionment of the Florida House and Senate circa 1970. Back then Legislators were primarily from North and Central Florida (districts were apportioned according to area, not population). Although South Florida had the greatest population and contributed the most tax dollars to Tallahassee, the good-ole boys in state government made sure the money stayed north of Lake Ochechobee. The main state universities (U. of F. and FSU) were in North Florida, most prisons were in North Florida (primarily Union County), etc. etc. One of the most glaring examples of this inequity was the highway system. It wasn't that long ago that I-75 stopped in Tampa, I-95 had an uncompleted gap in Martin county, and US 27 became a 2 lane death trap (bloody 27) as soon as it went south of Ochechobee. The main route north out of south Florida was the Florida turnpike, and it was a toll road. This mindset continues today. If you examine the cost per mile to travel the Florida turnpike, it is much higher in south Florida than the northern part of the turnpike. It is just another charming legacy of the days of yore when rural interests ran the state and south Floridians got the shaft.

[jiacinto]

10. When did I-75 become Alligator Alley?

nt

[RebelOne]

11. It's not as far as I know

That's Tamiami Trail that's called Alligator Alley.

[jiacinto]

13. I-75 is Alligator Alley

The Tamiami Trail is US 41.

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. About 10 years ago

Before that it I75 ended near Naples and Alligator Alley was a single lane highway like Tamiami Trail. Back then, there was nothing in between the turnpike in Broward County and the west coast, except for one little place called Andy Town.

[Scurrilous]

15. Correct.

They tore Andy Town down to build I-75.

More on Alligator Alley:

http://www.ecofloridamag.com/askeditor_alligator_alley.htm

[jiacinto]

16. Ok

Ther eis a town there called Immocaklee now.