These deals are almost sure to be a bad idea in the long run. Politicians like them because they allow states to run at a deficit for a while, selling fixed assets for a lump sum to finance state programs. Once the assets run out the state will be doubly screwed.
The companies buying these items plan to make money by raising rates. Generally there is a clause in the contract that limits the amount they can raise per year, but that simply delays the arrival of high prices until the current politicians are out of range.
Not surprisingly, these deals come with a maze of a contract. Things like future fees, taxes and access rights have to be spelled out in great detail. Typically hidden in the mix are nasty clauses like restrictions on the state doing anything that would restrict usage of the purchases infrastructure, down to the level of the state being forbidden from improving or building any roads that might draw traffic from the one they sold.
Jay