After this current legislative session, Indiana residents may find themselves paying for new roads--but only if they actually use them, by taking the toll road. 

In "The Strange Politics of the Indiana Legislature, Andrea Neal gives a preview of the issues likely to face the Indiana Legislature. (The essay is currently available on the front page of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation ; it will probably soon disappear behind a firewall that requires registration.) One proposal is to build a new toll road.

Of the toll road, she writes: Governor Mitch Daniels plans to "to put a new toll road around the northeast, east and south sides of Indianapolis." Why? "Daniels sees it as a huge economic development advantage, made more so because it that would be paid for by private funds. To move forward, Daniels needs legislation to transfer the tolling authority the Indiana General Assembly granted last year for the Evansville to Indianapolis segment of I-69. This way, I-69 would no longer be built as a toll road. Mayors and county officials in the affected communities are excited, but Democratic legislators – the same ones who opposed last year’s Major Moves initiative – are promising resistance."

Toll roads can be good public policy. Major firms provide the capital to pay for the development of the road, and tolls serve as user fees, allowing for a dedicated funding stream. The Reason Foundation has more on toll roads and transportation.