As Texas legislators prepare to cut $4 billion from education, they also plan to spend $4.4 billion on a 28 mile expansion of Interstate 35E between Dallas and Denton. The expansion would more than double the number of existing lanes to a total of 14 lanes (eight regular, four tolled HOV, four to six frontage), paid for through controversial public-private partnerships. Denton county voters are on the hook for $55 million from road bond funds, while local toll revenues add another $535 million. The project is poised to be the state’s most expensive road project in history, surpassing the $3.6 billion Central Texas Turnpike.

By comparison, Boston’s controversial Big Dig project was estimated at $2.8 billion in 1982, but the Globe estimates the grand total to be $22 billion with a payoff date of 2038. Was it worth it for Boston drivers? Some say that their commute is “just as long, if not longer,” and engineers say the expansion created new bottlenecks on connected roads.

How do the I35E project costs compare to rail? The DCTA commuter train added just along the same corridor cost $313 million, or 7% of the estimated I35E project cost. The fed recently passed on Texas’ request for $1.8 billion in high speed rail funding stating that Texas “has no central vision” for rail.

The massive 35E project awaits approval, as it recently became part of Senate Bill 1420, which includes a dizzying list of 20 additional toll road projects. The state senate just approved a 23% TXDOT budget increase, while other state entities face cuts, layoffs, and benefit reductions.

If completed, the 28 mile I35E expansion will rank #4 in the list of most expensive public works projects in U.S. history.