[Dog Gone]

I'm not keen on the idea of selling out the corridor to a private company, either, although I have little doubt that private enterprise could build the project faster and for less money than government.

I have no problem with them getting a fair return on their investment, but it should only be a fair return and then the project should be returned to the state on behalf of the citizens who live here.

[BobL]

Maybe we're not that far apart after all. We both (appear to) agree that a private company (particularly this company) will not give a darn about the drivers in Texas - rather they will answer to their bondholders and stockholders.

I agree with you that projects can generally be done faster by private companies, but much of that is due to the government's own regulations - regulations that could be suspended or revoked at the governments choosing. In other words, if Mr. Perry would spend 10% of the time that he spends shoving toll roads down our throats, instead working with the legislature - which is now solid Republican (but I doubt he's noticed), we could come up with much more efficient ways to build roads.

For example - the Northridge Earthquake in California took out a 10-lane wide road bridge on the Santa Monica Freeway. The bridge deck simply left its support on one end and dropped down to the street below. So there it was, sitting diagonally, with the freeway now severed. What happened: Governor Wilson called up a big-contractor friend and in 30 days the old bridge was cleared and a brand new replacement was completed. They later negotiated the contract and payments - meaning it can be done.