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I've gotten into this discussion before, and toll roads are especially useful to a state when the primary traffic on a road is from out of state.

This is true, for instance, with Indiana and Ohio, where the toll road in each state simply allows traffic from New York to go to Chicago. In Ohio, around 85% of drivers on the toll road are from out of state. I suspect it's about the same for Indiana.

These out of state drivers don't contribute any taxes to Ohio (other than the occasional fill-up while they are driving through) but yet toll road exists almost solely for their use.

Indiana has really gotten a sweet deal since it recently leased its toll road to a corporation for around $4 billion in cash. That $4 billion is being used to fund all sort of construction projects around the state, including major upgrades to the existing interstates and an extension of I-69, none of which would be possible without this money--which, again, comes from out of state drivers.

Since July, the interest earned from the lease of the Toll Road has made $82 million for Hoosiers. Indiana earns over $6 a second in interest.

Tell me why I should be opposed to the use of these toll roads?

By the way, that $6 a second figure was from way back in August. I think it's closer to $11 a second now. You can click on the link below to see how much money that Indiana has earned in interest.

http://www.in.gov/tos/MajorMoves.htm

Tell me why I should be opposed to the use of these toll roads?

If your goal is to fleece your fellow americans as they travel through your state, while you guarantee that businesses that thrive along free roads stay away, then you're doing exactly the right thing. I'm sure the environmentalists and urban politicians love them because they prevent the evil "sprawl" (AKA Capitalism).

Someday you might want to drive along I44 as it crosses the Oklahoma border and goes from toll road to free. I'm sure it's just a coincidence, but right at that point is where development starts. Not just gas stations, but a full assortment of businesses and housing areas. Northeastern Oklahoma traversed by the toll road is virtually unchanged since it was built.

Go ahead Texas, copy Oklahoma. There will be even more reason to call your state "Baja Oklahoma".

"toll roads are especially useful to a state when the primary traffic on a road is from out of state. "

We used to have the sweetest deal on I-95 at Richmond Virginia.
Yankees etc. passing through paid .75, the locals bought ticket books at .15 per trip. I've always considered ending those tolls prima facie evidence of criminality.