Toll highways, public and private, and privatization of public transportation assets is becoming a common response to ‘under investment in transportation infrastructure’ by state and Federal agencies. The high price fetched by a few recent sales and 99-year leases has state governments salivating and planning further privatizations. While the funds are supposed to be earmarked for further investments, already there have been instances of the money being redirected to correct ‘structural deficits’ (a process we’re familiar with in Long Beach).

IMHO, it’s only a matter of time before someone suggests privatizing parts of the 710 and 110 to pay for needed infrastructure investments. (Oops.)

TeamsterPower, writing Selling our Roads on Dailykos: “…More and more states are selling off or leasing toll roads to corporations. A plan is already on the table in Pennsylvania, and according to a Boston Globe editorial, Gov.-elect Deval Patrick will likely face a similar decision in Massachusetts. The Globe is against the idea, as we all should be. It’s bad for safety, it’s bad for states and it’s bad for workers…”