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Like many states, Wisconsin is facing the serious challenge of finding long-term, sustainable funding for transportation infrastructure. Unfortunately, the ongoing debate in Madison appears to have taken a detour away from serious solutions.

Some legislators have suggested that tollways are the answer to generating much needed transportation revenue. To be sure, tolls may be an appropriate means to fund new, narrowly tailored transportation projects under specific circumstances.

Many states have toll roads, but Wisconsin is one of the states that have not yet embraced this notion. However, in the near future this could change. Recently, some members of the Wisconsin Legislature have signaled their support for the creation of toll roads. Ultimately, creating toll roads would be a bad policy prescription for Wisconsin residents.

Some transportation watchers see a bright spot to Bridgegate — a chance to shine some light on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which has faced years of accusations about patronage and mismanagement.

This week’s political maelstrom over traffic jams affecting Fort Lee, N.J., served as many Americans’ introduction to the 93-year-old agency that commands an empire of tunnels, five airports, the East Coast’s biggest port, a commuter rail system and one of the nation’s largest police forces.