Texas governor still favors privatization for toll roads

Texas governor Rick Perry vowed April 22 to keep his state’s toll roads funded exclusively by privatization.

At the Transportation Forum, Perry publicly addressed the subject of private toll roads, along with other transportation priorities, for the first time since the December death of transportation chairman Ric Williamson.

"This is a place for big challenges, not big excuses," he told state Transportation Department employees and highway experts from around the country at the annual event.

Perry said he believed privatization was the optimal source for toll roads, as opposed to, for example, borrowing the money.

“Until a greater solution, and by that I mean a long-term solution, becomes clear, I am not willing to allow this state to simply go further into debt,” he said.

"There remain many, many financial institutions who are ready, willing and able to invest their money to build the roads we need.”

States throughout the union facing large road-funding debts have debated following the example set by Texas’ seeking out private toll road deals, with mixed results.