More Transportation Talk

Via the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, we find that Georgia is grappling with major highway problems. More specifically, how to pay for the whole mess:

Georgia officials know they can't pay for it all, and they are looking for fresh sources of funds to combat the gridlock, including private investment and more toll roads. Atlanta hovers near the top of national traffic jam rankings, and officials fear it will choke on its congestion if something isn't done.
Those who think building more roads is the answer see hope in the deep pockets of private companies. The old way of paying for big highway projects like these — a product of the 50-year-old push to connect American cities by interstates — is running out of gas.

Regular readers of my posts on transportation issues know that I don't think building more roads is the answer. More highways just lead to more congestion! I'm citing the example of Georgia not just because it's one of my 'adoptive states,' but because the I-85/I-75 Connector is an excellent example of our love of the highway taken to the extreme.

Rather than rethink our transportation priorities, we're willing to hand over huge contracts to private companies to maintain an inherently unsustainable form of transportation. The opportunities for corruption are endless. Are we mad?