Most (but not all) of the toll roads in Texas were funded by the sale of bonds that are secured by future toll collections. Unless the state is willing to pay off the bonds, no politician is going to get rid of them.
The most recent toll roads in the D/FW area have, or are being built years (or even decades) earlier than they would have been built if we had to wait for TXDoT to dribble out the money.
And the best part is that the fees are being paid by the people that use them. Since electronic toll collection is now the standard method, it's no different than any other highway.
You already pay gas taxes for highway upkeep. Tell your leaders that’s what you want the money spent on, rather than mass transit rabbit holes.
Where I live, mass transit is funded by a addition to the sales tax. I'm not happy with it, but it's not the gas tax. However, I do wish they would quit adding HOV lanes that are usually empty except during the peak of rush hour. Ban trucks from the left lanes, but don't close them off to automobiles.
Toll roads are nothing more or less than one more way to tax you. Actually floating bonds was brilliant. They got the money up front and now have you over the barrel to pay them off. No offense but you are exhibiting the precise mindset they were hoping you would.
The good people of your state pay out lots of Money in gas taxes. They shouldn’t have to pay off bonds too through tolls.
Now while you won’t be stopped to pay tolls, it really is different. You’re paying another fee on top of the gas taxes you already pay.
I think you’re being jobbed. Those tolls will never end. I’ll bet they’re still charging tolls on the turnpike from OKC to the Missouri line. They were charging those 45 years ago.
California has never been a big toll road state. Now they’re getting ready to put them on all our freeways. You can’t go anywhere without them here. This will cost everyone who works $100s of dollars per year.
You don’t need to ban trucks from the left lanes, just ticket them if they hang out there. Most truck drivers keep right without a law that tells them to.