Who Owns Texas Toll Roads?

In the state of Texas, there are now around 25 toll highways. Since the comparatively low income from the state’s fuel tax restrict transportation planners’ ability to finance the building and maintenance of roadways, toll roads are more prevalent in Texas than in many other U.S. states.

The Texas state legislature decisively approved a ban on all new toll roads in 2007 due to the ongoing debate around the state’s toll highways. Until 2009, the embargo essentially prohibited any new toll road projects. This embargo, however, was known as the “Swiss cheese moratorium” since it had several exclusions. The exclusions specifically permitted the majority of the projects in the North Texas/Dallas areas to go ahead. The main worry that prompted the ban was that by departing from its tollway authority model and contracting out roads solely to private businesses, the state would ultimately harm taxpayers.