State seeks Alligator Alley suitor

The state Department of Transportation announced Monday it would formally seek proposals from firms interesting in leasing Alligator Alley for 50 to 75 years. The 78-mile South Florida toll road bisects the Everglades from Fort Lauderdale to Naples and DOT is looking for a qualified vendor to take over the expressway and collect the toll revenues while maximizing the road's profitability.

The official project web site is www.alligator-alley.com.

Comments

[Donald Lance]

Why don't they ask Rubio's friend? He knows about making money off of toll roads. Oh, I forgot! The govt isn't paying him money to take over the operation.

Great idea - I hear the Hamas and Al-Qaeda are looking for good investments in this country!

[Omega83]

That's nice. An asset I've taken years to invest, and develop (well an asset WE as Floridians have paid for), is up for lease without our consent...

I am also sure that trucks delivering products to/from the Ports of Miami and Tampa, much less the millions along I-75, will love the costs of their business potentially going up.

NO WAY. The politicians will get this money up front, spend it up front and pass on to future generations less of a state and nation. This is just plain wrong.

The people paid to build this roadway and the politicians should not be able to sell it. What next, selling vacation packages in the White House and autioning off Mt. Rushmore?

Privitization is not an across the board panacea! You'll find the success/failure rate for such undertakings is about 50/50; with some of the failures being rather breathtaking in how badly they performed.

Who says the GOP cares about our future? Blathering about patriotism while selling off the peoples' assets to foreigners. Lord, I can't wait to vote these people out of power.

Privitization is not an across the board panacea! You'll find the success/failure rate for such undertakings is about 50/50 with the 50% "successes" being those in which the total cost was never honestly calculated.

Seven posts and no Hershey Highway references?

First let's sell the state universities. They are an ongoing totally endless money pit. Private operators could put these back on the tax rolls and make money. Most of the excellent universities in the world are private.

Hey, let's sell the Legislature - oops! They were bought years ago and continue to re-purchased each session!

[Jason Straight]

Thank you Gop ..Say goodby..Even the dumbest whoples in sopchopie can figure out this one..They want to build condos and strip malls in the glades.I even understand they are gonna paint Walmart on the gators backs for a fee.The selling of our state must stop..The beaurocrat responsible for this one will get a whoppping kick back.Hey GOP you keep what you kill!Good work!

Privatization is Jeb's baby, and therefore, wrong.

[rjm]

Jason, at least the people in Sopchoppy can spell. Your post is indicative of a Florida public education.
I just don't see why this is needed. Why would the state give up this revenue stream? It's just stupid.

Is there really land along Alligator Alley that can be bought be politicians before this goes through?

sounds like PRIVITZATION to me...meaning the taxpayers get screwed over and pals of the pols make $$$$!!

shhhhhhhhh, shhhhhhhhhhhhh, 7.06!!

someone will pass that idea along to the drunk and we will see it proposed as a new "initiative for private enterprise"!

The Seminole tribe should lease Alligator Alley and use it for alligator drag racing wagering. They could build some resort casinos at the rest stops too for additional revenue.

Bend over and grab your ankles...