In Case You Missed It: NY Times Column Urges a New Way Forward

David Leonhardt’s column in yesterday's New York Times makes a great case for a new way forward in transportation funding.

Leonhardt believes, as do I, that what’s needed to improve our transportation network isn’t just money.  We need results-driven decision making processes, and a funding system that doesn’t rely on political influence to get projects across the finish line:

“….the bigger problem has been an utter lack of seriousness in deciding how that money gets spent. And as long as we’re going to stimulate the economy by spending money on roads, bridges and the like, we may as well do it right…So if you talk to people who spend their lives studying infrastructure, you’ll hear two reactions to the attention that Mr. Obama, Nancy Pelosi and even some Republicans are now lavishing on the subject. The first is: Thank goodness. The second is: Please, please don’t just pour more money into the current system.”

Read the entire column here, and let me know your thoughts.

-Secretary Peters

Comments

[Larry]

While none but an elected member of Congress can defend earmarks, let's not be declaring victory or wisdom yet. The DOT, in its slavish support of the "no new taxes" mantra from the White House, has failed to offer any real policy guidance for the nation's infrastructure problems. The fact remains that the needs for money exceed the ability of any one source to provide sufficient funds. We need fuel taxes, tolls, public-private partnerships, user fees, ton-mile taxes and a few I haven't thought of yet. Secretary Peters, you may be doing the right thing, but you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

[GS]

Could it be possible to use road based taxes as a source of steady funding for our roads and bridges? I would feel better knowing that my tolls and gas taxes went straight into the roads that my car helps to wear down! It would be a constant source of money, but as with any government spending there would have to be oversight to where that money goes.

[Jeff Muhs]

Secretary Peters:

Rather than build more roads, I'd recommend we transform existing roads into electric highways using a recent development that will enable safe and efficient wireless energy transfer to vehicles from highways. The result would be less foreign oil use, congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions.

Jeff Muhs
Executive Director, Utah State University Energy Lab

[Jeremy]

Much of this article seems to make sense. I take issue with the notion that now isn't the right time to overhaul the system. A few points:

Construction costs are currently at a reasonably low level because of the sagging economy. So, you get more bang for your buck at the moment. (This applies to both labor and materials.)

Vehicle miles traveled are way down, this has reduced the number of automobile trips to be caught up in construction related congestion.

Finally, along with the reduced vehicle miles has come lower oil process. This is one of the main ingredients in road building (asphalt, oil is a major component). These reduced oil costs also help dampen construction costs through cheaper shipping, etc.

Now is the time! Some debt now when things are cheap could really help with future growth. Maybe we should take it out of the 700 billion that doesn't ever seem to be enough for Wall Street. Let's spend it on something tangible, our infrastructure. I see bridges and highways that were built in the 50's and think "my god, would there ever be enough political will to get something like this done again?" There should be, and now is the time.