Governors' association discusses toll roads

The nation's governors have wrapped up their winter meeting in Washington, DC. Highlights of the meeting include a discussion on toll roads. U.S. Transportation Sec. Mary Peters said private dollars are needed to meet highway needs, not just public funds that are subject to regular fights in Congress.

The nation's current highway funding law expires in September 2009. Peters suggested replacing the current funding plan with a $400 billion network of privately funded toll roads and bridges — saying many investors are willing to step in.

Governor Beebe responded that rural states don't generate enough traffic to justify private investment in toll roads, and he asked Peters why the federal government was building roads overseas instead of making more funds available at home. "Does the administration have any plans to increase the size of the pie?" Beebe asked. Here's more from The Trucker and the Democrat-Gazette (subscription req'd.).