[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

This change would also free states from the numerous mandates that come with receiving funds from the federal government, like the pro-union Davis-Bacon rules, which unnecessarily increase the cost of transportation projects by approximately 10 percent by requiring heavy use of organized labor, and the Reagan-era law that allows the federal government to withhold 10 percent of a state's highway funds if it dares to allow people under the age of 21 to legally purchase and consume alcohol. These inefficient one-size-fits-all mandates are clear abuses of federal power.

Highway Nanny State PING!

[Paladin2]

Montana and Wyoming have different situations than RI and Delaware.

[Alberta's Child]

There's one big problem with this kind of approach. States will have no real incentive to do any new construction or long-term maintenance on roads through rural areas that connect to the interior of the country. If this doesn't sound plausible, it's important to realize that the earliest pressure in Washington for Federal transportation funding came all the way back in the very early 1800s. The first National Road was constructed as part of the agreement through which Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803. It's no coincidence that the first Federal roads were being built when the first regions with no coastline on the Atlantic Ocean were joining the United States.

This is also (not coincidentally) the same reason why the strongest opposition to this "devolvement" transportation spending strategy comes from Republican Senators representing interior states.

[ConorMacNessa]

As an inmate in the Maryland Archipelago, I take umbrage at having to carry the laboring oar for the highway that passes by my house conveying the millions from North and South who pass through here on their way to Florida or Maine, or points between.

I think they should impose tolls on out-of-staters above and beyond what I have to pay for driving on the highways my taxes paid for.

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[Olog-hai]

Roads were mostly private and tolled until the “Good Roads Movement” appeared in Rhode Island back in 1880, fomented by bicycle-riding “agitators”. Then counties and states started taking over maintenance and charging taxes for upkeep.

[bigbob]

Dumb. Its called “interstate” for a reason.

[Objective Scrutator]

Roads should be handled by private institutions, not government. Central planning fails in all aspects.

[Rodamala]

I believe the Pennsylvania Turnpike has been under major construction ever since it was a railroad right-of-way.

[vette6387]

Closing down the Federay Highway Administration should also be on Trump/Cruz lists. It’s functions have been in the Agriculture Department, then the Commerce Department, and more recently The Transportation Department. The gas tax was originally set up not to fund roads, but the Federal Government. All three Departments should be shuttered.

[Gene Eric]

>> Let States Build Their Own Highways

Says the driver that never suffered New Jersey’s jug-handles.

[BobL]

I suspect that this clown has NEVER traveled on US Interstates. While they are certainly not perfect, he might want to look at the haphazard collections of highways we had prior to Interstates. They made perfect sense, if you lived at either end, or on the route - but NO SENSE AT ALL if you were trying to, say, drive THROUGH a state. Those were truly highways to nowhere.

Anyway, this bunch has been looking to sell off our highways to China FOR DECADES - thankfully they continue to treated like the loonies that they are.

[This_far]

When Congress left town for the August recess...

It might solve a LOT of problems if we didn't let them go BACK?

Keep them in state, telecommute, gather only when necessary (when or for whatever that might be).