Toll Roads Are Spreading in America (economist.com)
- Reference: 0180462491
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/27/0224259/toll-roads-are-spreading-in-america
- Source link: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/12/18/toll-roads-are-spreading-in-america
The federal gas tax hasn't been raised since 1993. In fiscal 2024, the federal government spent $27 billion more on road maintenance than it collected from fuel taxes, and at state and local levels, fuel taxes covered barely a quarter of road spending. Drivers currently pay to access just 6,300 miles of America's roughly 160,000 miles of highway.
Most tolling projects have enjoyed bipartisan support -- Florida has more toll roads by distance than any other state, and Texas is second. But as Republicans embrace populism, the politics are shifting. In New York, almost all state Republicans fought congestion pricing, and President Donald Trump attempted to shut it down after taking office. Some Republicans now want to buy back pay-to-drive roads and make them free.
[1] https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/12/18/toll-roads-are-spreading-in-america
Re: (Score:2)
The more they thought about it, the more it cost them, they realized?
2$ (Score:2)
I remember way too many memes passing by unsolicited, looking forward to fuel getting under 2$ per gallon once Trump got elected. This is a way, you now. Cut the tax on fuel, make it all toll roads. There, yet another promise delivered. (/s)
Private corporation pick-pockets (Score:2)
If tolls actually went to the upkeep of roads, then there really should not be an issue. What does come up every time is that governments/states/cities hand over the collection of tolls to a private company with little oversight. Way too many issues of these companies pocketing the bulk of the fees and tossing a few coins in the direction of the officials to keep them happy.
interstate highways are Federally funded, no toll (Score:2)
The link is paywalled ! State roads may get turned into toll roads, but NOT Federally funded interstates.....
Or we can tax appropriately (Score:2)
The 20th Century superpower US was built using a highly progressive tax structure. What's so disappointing about the silent generation and boomers is that they destroyed and sold out what made America great, including the tax system.
[1]https://bradfordtaxinstitute.c... [bradfordtaxinstitute.com]
[1] https://bradfordtaxinstitute.com/Free_Resources/Federal-Income-Tax-Rates.aspx
Re: (Score:2)
How are toll roads not "taxing appropriately"? The people who benefit from them directly are the ones who support them, it seems like a perfect system.
Re: (Score:2)
They are always more expensive because they have to make a profit, and they distort the market by making it easier for larger players to get preferential rates, or simply eat the cost until their competitors fold.
Re: (Score:2)
> They are always more expensive because they have to make a profit,
They aren't always more expensive, and they don't have to make a profit. Private toll roads tend to want profit, but public toll roads don't have that goal.
Toll roads are always annoying, but things like fast trak (auto pay methods where you don't need to stop) make them less annoying.