Donald Trump Released a Plan to Privatize America’s Roads and Bridges

[misterhighwasted]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2016/11/04/donald_trump_s_plan_to_privatize_america_s_roads_and_bridges.html

NOV. 4 2016 6:56 PM
While You Weren’t Looking, Donald Trump Released a Plan to Privatize America’s Roads and Bridges
By Jordan Weissmann

SNIP

Of course, it‘s not really free. Americans would just end up paying for the construction a bit later on.

Under Trump's plan—at least as it's written (more on that in a minute)—the federal government would offer tax credits to private investors interested in funding large infrastructure projects, who would put down some of their own money up front, then borrow the rest on the private bond markets.
They would eventually earn their profits on the back end from usage fees, such as highway and bridge tolls (if they built a highway or bridge) or higher water rates (if they fixed up some water mains).

So instead of paying for their new roads at tax time, Americans would pay for them during their daily commute.
And of course, all these private developers would earn a nice return at the end of the day.

[duncang]

1. Unless it is like the Rick Perry toll roads

Where if the for profit company doesn't make "X" profit the difference is made up from the tax payer. Shutting down or other wise making alternate routes difficult and slower. Adding the overhead of toll booths and associated payrolls. My favorite part was when some of the roads here had the bridge sections built on tax payer dollars then taken over by the toll road authority and charged for the use of them.

[misterhighwasted]

3. That is true. In fact we are STILL paying to drive on roads whose tolls should have expired.

Those tolls remain no matter what deadline was promised.

Ya I can see Trump doing exactly this.

He better lose.

[world wide wally]

2. This is too fucking stupid to even comment on

Even for Trump

[misterhighwasted]

4. Cha ching

I'm sure Trump thought this would be a great idea.
But he is not going to the White House anyway. Ever.

[WIProgressive88]

5. This is one stupid man we are dealing with. God help us if he wins.