The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "toll bridges" ...
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Tollway Junket
"The North Texas Tollway Authority, a public entity, sent 5 representatives on an all-expenses paid trip to Vienna, Austria to attend the International Bridge, Tunnel and Tollway Association's annual meeting. The trip cost tollway users more than $42,000 dollars and our hidden cameras revealed some representatives dining on five star meals, catered by companies with multi-million dollar construction contracts."
Tags: North Texas Tollway Authority; transportation; roads; toll roads; Texas; conflict of interest; funding; hidden camera; budget; public;
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The Highwaymen
This investigation explores a recent trend: auctioning the maintenance of public highways and bridges to private companies. The article shows how privatization benefits the companies far more than the public. Private road operators charge high tolls and insist on non-compete clauses, so the government can't build other roads in the area.
Tags: transportation; privatization; bridges; roads; constructions; infastructure; driving; transit; state government
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Price of neglect adds up
This investigation revealed how Lee County siphoned off nearly $50 million in tolls from Sanibel Causeway bridges to pay for other projects and now faces a $105 million bill to replace the bridges. The bridges have deteriorated so rapidly over the years because of a lack of maintenance. Motorists will pay for the new bridges; tolls have doubled to pay the expense. Following the story, county commissioners demanded an audit of the Sanibel bridge accounts. Sanibel officials are moving forward with a lawsuit against the county charging mismanagement of bridge maintenance.
Tags: bridge maintenance; tolls; bridges; bridge database; CAR; computer-assisted reporting
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Deception at the Delaware river Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Reporters from The Morning Call look at how government officials benefitted from raising the toll hike for bridges connecting New Jersey to Pennsylvania. The heavy increase in toll for these bridges was on the pretext of having developing a fund for rebuilding the bridges in case of any terrorist attacks. But as these reporters found out the government officials were actually playing on people's fear, increasing toll rates and using the money for economic development projects that would increase their power.
Tags: Government officials; toll bridges; bridges across New Jersey and Pennsylvania; terrorist attacks