[outpostinmass2]

The Federal Highway System cost more and more each year, the older the bridges get and the more expansion that is added on. Right now the highway fund covers about 80%. That will only get worse or gas taxes will have to be increased. Oil is going to get more expensive as well.

The Federal Highway system is in the same place the railroads were in 50 years ago. If it was a private company it would be asking for bankruptcy protection just the same.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Your analogy to fifty years ago would be correct if the Feds decided, for example, to end the ability of long haul trucks to use the interstate system, removing their gas tax and tariff revenues. The loss of mail contracts by LBJ's amdinistation killed the profitability of passenger rail service in the U.S.