[ikka]

If the Pennsylvania Turnpike can make $320 million or so per year in profits, how much would the Texas Turnpike (or whatever it is called) be likely to make? Figure an easy $300 million per year, times 50 years = $15 billion or more.

Paying only $1.2 billion to the state and then $6 billion to develop it is chump change. Besides, the politicians will not actually use the windfall to reduce taxes but will treat it as "free money" to spend on pork.

I have not accounted for current value etc. since tolls will rise each year or few years to keep pace with inflation.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I didn't even know the PA turnpike was making profits. I thought it was having red ink problems, but maybe I was misinformed. One thing's for sure: whatever profits they're making comes from keeping the tolls relatively low (currently at about 6 cents per mile). If the Trans-Texas Corridor administration wants to actually see profits, I think they would be wise to follow the PA Turnpike's example.