It would be great if many of the new roads were privately funded. Then charge tolls for profit. No problem with that.
That’s what has been done with the E-470 beltway in Denver. E-470 is the best maintained, best patrolled and best cleared road in snow in the entire metro area. Traffic flow is good and it is being widened before there is a real crunch in rush hour traffic. Costs a little bit but it is a pleasure to drive on. I’m sure the state collects far more in gas tax to maintain the public freeways, but they are in abysmal shape. Maybe we should privatize the whole interstate system, do away with the gas tax and allow free enterprise to take care of our roads. Things would be a lot better.
That would be consistent with the boot strap republicans.
But clawing for more public dollars seems fine to them in this situation.