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An Animated Argument For Congestion Pricing
In 1951, Milton Friedman coauthored a paper on road pricing. It would be a mere footnote in both Friedman's career and in the intellectual history of road pricing, if not for one sci-fi flourish: The authors propose painting radioactive material alongside expressways, so that road operators can charge drivers using car-mounted geiger counters. Obviously, this suggestion was never heeded, but it says something about the economics profession’s hunger for pricing roads that a future Nobel laureate would set his imagination to Bradbury mode to advance the cause. Ken Livingstone, mayor of London, later credited Friedman with inspiring London’s pathbreaking congestion charge.
January 10, 2012
To GOP’s Dismay, DOT Funds Disaster Relief Without Gutting Other Programs
The U.S. DOT announced this morning that it’s allocating almost $1.6 billion for repairs to roads and bridges that were damaged in recent floods and storms. If House Republicans had gotten their way, this money would have come out of high-speed rail funds.
January 9, 2012
Was Eric Cantor Forced to Ride This Bike?
Eric Cantor, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that 60 Minutes forced you to pose for this shot.
January 9, 2012
Commuter Transit Tax Break Could Reclaim Parity With Parking in 2012
As Congress prepares to reconvene and take up the payroll tax cut extension yet again, a movement is forming to restore the transit commuter tax benefit to 2011 levels.
January 6, 2012
In Leadup to Iowa Victory, Romney Pokes Passenger Rail
In a landslide (er, eight-vote) victory over former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum in the Iowa caucus earlier, Mitt Romney solidified his lead over the rag-tag field of GOP nominees. He also took an opportunity, the day before the caucus, to make a tired old argument against public support of passenger rail service.
January 5, 2012
In Iowa, GOP Candidates Ignore Transportation and Urban Issues
With all eyes on today's Iowa caucuses, it’s worth noting that this year’s vocal crop of GOP candidates has been mostly silent on the subject of transportation and urban issues in general.
January 4, 2012
When “Old and Blighted” Development Beats “Shiny and New” Suburbanism
There are plenty of hidden costs to auto-oriented development: increased levels of air and water pollution, safety risks posed to pedestrians and cyclists. But as Strong Towns Blog points out, some costs are hardly hidden at all.
January 3, 2012
Senate’s Changes to TIFIA Could Mean More Toll Roads, Less Transit
When the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed a two-year transportation reauthorization bill last month, it quickly became clear that bipartisan support was coming at a price. First, we learned that the Transportation Enhancements bike/ped programs would lose their dedicated funding. Now, we learn that Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans will no longer hold applicants to as high an environmental standard -- or any standard, really.
December 22, 2011
TIGER III Will Boost Freight Transportation But Not Transform It
Of the 46 recently-announced TIGER grant recipients, 18 projects had at least a "substantial freight component," according to the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors. Over $232 million -- 45 percent -- of this latest round of the popular transportation funding program will go to freight projects. That's a very impressive share, considering that traditional federal funding mechanisms tend to neglect freight.
December 22, 2011