Why are there like no toll roads in the western us but a bunch in the rest of the country?

Question

Not counting bridges, why are there toll roads in other parts of the USA and not any in the western USA? It seems wierd to me, a person from CA, to have to pay a toll just for driving on flat roads.

Answer 1

There is a greater historical precedent in the East for tolling roads, before the federal government took charge and started building them themselves. The West was only settled relatively recently, with Arizona (for example) becoming a state only in 1914. The federal highway system was established not much later in 1926. In the East, names like "turnpike" describe roads because there used to be pikes in the road to prevent carriages and cars from crossing until they had paid a toll, then they would turn the pike to let the car pass. Before the federal highway system, toll roads were the primary mode of transportation because they were built by private individuals and companies. With the anti-tax rhetoric of Republicans, though, we are returning to that trend as the federal government runs a deficit, states are less willing to tax themselves to build new roads, and states are turning instead to new electronic toll collection systems to charge a more politically palatable "user fee." This is why toll roads are spreading farther West in places like Kansas and Texas where they weren't there before.

Answer 2

The roads built in the east and south are older and have sustained more use (and thereby more damage) than roads in the west. Also, there is more travel done on the east coast than on the west. The tolls help pay for the heavy usage.

Answer 3

The taxes are probably higher and the tolls are needed

Answer 4

there are toll booths in western america u just haven seen 'em

Answer 5

There's one in LA that isn't a bridge. A private company made it and they charge to use it. It sure saves time on traffic.

Answer 6

You mean there are trolls in America? I always thought those were European fairy tails.

Answer 7

Could it be that somebody set up shop there?Tool booths could be illegal.

Answer 8

There aren't any in the southeast.

Answer 9

they'll get you anyway you let them.
check our property taxes formula and weep.