A hefty toll

If you're a fan of toll roads — and let's be honest, who isn't? — you'll probably be really pleased to know that Harris County and the state have reached an agreement that will let the county expand three toll projects using state right-of-way. Total cost: Well, we don't know. TxDOT has asked the county for $1 billion upfront, plus an unspecified share of future toll revenue, to use state land to build 80 miles of extensions to the Grand Parkway, Sam Houston Tollway and Highway 290. You know, that's really a lot of money, but the state has justified it — sort of:

County infrastructure director Art Storey called the amount "surprising and outrageous," but TxDOT said that by letting the county build and operate the roads, it was forgoing the opportunity to do so itself or to sell that right for profit.

The state's opportunity to sell the right to build roads for profit may sound odd, but remember, it's something TxDOT has been pretty gung-ho about lately.

The proposed agreement apparently came about after Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack asked Gov. Rick Perry to "get things moving" on the toll-road projects, which have been stalled while the county and state were at an impasse over how to deal with building for-profit roads on state land. Under the proposed agreement, if another entity eventually takes over construction of the tollways, TxDOT will reimburse the county for the value of work done to that point. How generous.