[kingu]

Where would the state get the right of way to add two lanes in each direction to I-35?

Where will the state get the right of way to build these new super-highways (Pah! Three lanes wide? We've streets that are wider than that in Los Angeles...) They'll get it the same way - the legislature writes a law requiring land owners to give up their land for 'suitable compensation.' Same way they're doing it now.

I'm still a little fuzzy on the math of this thing, though. The highways will supposedly cost private companies $175 billion, yet over 50 years it will generate $135 billion in commerce for the state. Strikes me as quite poor deal - I assume that I've gotten some number wrong somewhere, right?

[Paleo Conservative]

Where will the state get the right of way to build these new super-highways (Pah! Three lanes wide? We've streets that are wider than that in Los Angeles...) They'll get it the same way - the legislature writes a law requiring land owners to give up their land for 'suitable compensation.' Same way they're doing it now.

I don't think you've driven down I-35. The land on either side of the righ of way is pretty heavily developed, and it was one of the first Interstate highways built in Texas so there were mistakes made in making the right of way too narrow. It would cost a lot more to acquire more right of way adjacent to the existing right of way than to buy up undeveloped land to build a whole new highway. Undeveloped cow pasture is a lot cheaper to acquire than already developed commercial realestate.

[Paleo Conservative]

I'm still a little fuzzy on the math of this thing, though. The highways will supposedly cost private companies $175 billion, yet over 50 years it will generate $135 billion in commerce for the state. Strikes me as quite poor deal - I assume that I've gotten some number wrong somewhere, right?

The highways and other rights of way won't disappear in 50 years. They'll continue to benefit people for many generations. The new roads would be considerably safer than the existing I-35. There should be quite a bit of value in decreasing highway deaths in the state.