I moved here from Houston five years ago and could not believe how many toll roads DFW has. You literally cannot get across the metroplex without paying somebody.
The NTTA is technically a political subdivision which means they answer to... basically nobody? No elected board, no voter oversight. They set the rates, they collect the money, and if you don't pay they send it to collections and wreck your credit.
What kills me is that PGBT was supposed to become a freeway once it was paid off. That was the deal. Instead they just keep building more toll lanes and charging more. The 635 Express lanes are wild — I've seen prices hit $15 during rush hour for like 8 miles.
I get that roads cost money and taxes alone won't cover it. But it feels like DFW built its entire transportation infrastructure around the assumption that everyone can afford an extra $200/month in tolls. If you're working class and live in the suburbs you're just stuck.
Has anyone actually done the math on what they spend annually on tolls? I tracked mine for a month and it was $187. That's over $2K a year just to drive to work.