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Roads are a necessity of life and commerce and they need to be paid for, both in terms of actual construction and routine maintenance. Taxing those who use them seems like a reasonable approach to me.
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True, but, IMO, the issue w/ HOW said taxes (price point) and construction/maintenance are ‘paid’: mainly, by crony Capitalism.
Govt controlled ‘bids’ w/ a high floor, union wages, govt-limited supply chains, etc. which bloat the project ever so. Add in the pilfering of the existing gas taxes for NON traffic wants/’needs’, cost/time over-runs (w/o any repercussions??) and maint. which (seems to) commence upon the completion of the 1st mile laid (IE: never-ending construction).
Least, around here, even if/when it gets done, govt through *again*, “Oh, we didn’t expect...We never took into account...”, as only govt can do. Allow 30 new sub-divisions on a 2-lane road; nothing for water/sewage/drainage/extra lanes or entrances/exits. Then, wonder how/why the congestion and public angst.
Govt & unions\cronies....hand-in-hand, picking the taxpayer pocket.
Ending Davis-Bacon for federally-funded projects would help costs a great deal. Also, if your state is not right-to-work, work to make it right-to-work or a similar competitive model that is not in thrall to unions.