Toll Roads in Missouri?

Abstract

In the past few years, Missouri legislators have been considering whether the state should implement toll roads. Historically, Missouri and other states have funded transportation projects on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, paying for construction, maintenance and administration as money became available from traditional user fees such as gas tax revenues and registration fees. Today, however, there are toll roads in 29 states and they bring in approximately $4 billion a year. Given Missouri's current situation with transportation financing, toll roads might be one avenue in addressing some of our highway needs. Toll roads, however, should not been seen as a panacea for financing all of our transportation needs. Toll roads are typically not very popularwith Missouri voters, and since all roads in Missouri cannot become toll roads, toll roads are at best a limited source of new revenue.