[muawiyah]

It's not a Privatized Highway ~ it is a privately built highway.

The tolls are not out of line with combined Metrorail/Metroparking fees.

Besides, no one ever forced anyone to live out there ~ it's their own choice. I recall distinctly when you could go hunting EVERYWHERE along that route with highpowered rifles and not fear hitting any dwellings, or even an old rusty fence.

The landowners lobbied for the Toll Road at a time when Virginia had far higher priorities elsewhere.

The road got built. The value of the land skyrocketed. Development took place.

The burden of the cost of the road be upon them!

[RushingWater]

I guarantee the power of imminent domain was used to get the land to build some of that road - therefore the gov't has the right to regulate it for the mutual benefit. Privately owned utilities utilize this option all the time and submit to various regulations that guarantee they are offering fair public service.