Look at the above map (click on it for greater detail). The people in the northern half of Wake County drive free-of-charge on the lovely I-540. The people in the southern half of the same county get the North Carolina Turnpike Authority and a toll road for the same privilege on an as-yet unbuilt road.
If a toll road is what it takes to complete 540, while debatable, so be it. But the people in Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and Garner should not be forced to pay for transportation provided free-of-charge to North Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Knightdale. If a turnpike authority is what it takes to complete I-540, fine. But ALL users should pay equally.
Now my esteemed colleagues at the Raleigh News and Observer will point out, that in North Carolina, it is illegal to retroactively designate any road a toll road. And therefore, sadly, we are unable to re-classify the northern half of I-540 a toll road.
That's their excuse.
No mention that any law can be changed. Or, that the good voters of southern Wake County supported an outer loop of full circumference, not a free-ride for their north county neighbors.
Journalists at work. Your newspaper at work. Our government at work!
Now I am not really proposing that any of I-540 be turned into a toll road. We all pay taxes, the government should do it's job. But this should be done fairly and in good faith.