[mhays]

Voters and electeds would NEVER choose to take away existing highways or toll them, in any region. Even "road diets," such as turning a 2+2 into 1+1+1, are sold as maintaining capacity.

As for building on time and on budget, my region seems to do well, with both transit and (replacement) highways. Negotiated rather than bid contracting is often a major factor, often using design-build. Another is intentionally underpromising during the decision phase, so they have cushion.