The author is living in a libertarian/environmentalist dream world. Highways still need to be maintained and built if economic growth is to continue, as people who visit 3d world nations like Venezuela soon find out. While technology has allowed expanded work-at-home and more efficient use of highways, congestion and deferred maintenance continue to increase. Somebody has to pay the bills, and the fairest and most efficient way is through user fees and congestion charges, which (1)burden those whose use is responsible for the expenditures and thereby (2) give users an incentive to economize on their use.
“Where I focus is on the highway funds used for every other pet project known to man.”.....
You can be damn well assured the funds are NOT being used for other “pet projects” by those of us who are responsible for keeping those roads in good repair. Those problems start way up stream from your local state and county highway departments.