Civic pride can be a good investment. The Golden Gate Bridge has brought in a lot of money, simply because it is beautiful. A clever combination of beauty and value is the ultimate goal.
The Sundial Bridge in Redding is a good example:
You make a good point, but it is sooooo frustrating that this bridge isn't finished yet, and who knows when it will be? The cost estimates keep changing, and there is talk of raising the tolls yet AGAIN to pay for the new bay bridge. Tolls are already $3. The earthquake that knocked down a piece of the Bay Bridge was in 1989, and the politicians are still arguing over the design of the new bridge. I just want to knock their heads together and kick their sorry butts.
Originally budgeted at $2.3 million (1.4 million in federal funds) with a cap of 3.1 million on total expenditures, the cost swelled to $14 million BEFORE ground breaking. Final costs are estimated at $23 million for the PEDESTRIAN bridge. Estimated taxpayer subsidy for each PEDESTRIAN crossing is about $20 dollars. Of course, it is billed as a FREE crossing.