If there were no ‘toll’ roads, the regular roads in Austin then would be just as packed and jammed as you say. To have built these roads open to all (for free) would then have required increased property taxes, increased sales taxes, assessments, etc. IOW, another cost added on to those poor people.. So what is the answer? Make the people who are willing to pay for the construction and maintenance of them do the paying?
I’m just as big a detractor of toll roads as the next guy, but for different reasons like they start with the goal to just pay for the roads, but by the time they’re paid for, they became a damn jobs program and extra ‘free’ money for the local governments to use as their own personal cash cow.
Frankly, I’m tired of the income inequality meme. There’s a myriad of reasons why people are poor, but it isn’t always government’s (or the rich’s) fault.
I do not use the toll roads since I don’t drive enough in Austin to use them. Just giving my 2 cents worth.
:: they start with the goal to just pay for the roads, but by the time they’re paid for, they became a damn jobs program and extra ‘free’ money for the local governments to use as their own personal cash cow ::
Google “I-294” or “Chicago’s TriState Tollway”. Toll-funding was designed to be continuous while being sold to the public as a bond-type construction.
Why does San Antonio have better roads and no tolls?