It wasn't that long ago that in some states toll roads were built and citizens were told that once the toll road had been paid for with the change tossed into tollbooth baskets, the road would operate as a freeway.
That was then and this is now. Almost every news day articles are posted about how states and traffic authorities are searching for ways to fund infrastructure improvement.
"I think the states over time have lost hope in the federal government enacting a real, long-term infrastructure package" says Carl Davis, research director for the non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. "And so they've taken matters in their own hands and boosted funding on their own."
Loathe to raises taxes and still waiting for the administration to bring forth details on the promised $1 trillion infrastructure package, the idea of repurposing highways as toll roads or increasing the cost to use established toll roads seems to be a viable solution. But is it?
NPR's David Schaper's article More States Turning To Toll Roads To Raise Cash For Infrastructure for his take on the situation. Hint: One of his experts told him tolls are "the worst funding mechanism available."
