Recent article about our infrastructure

[Lightning Strike]

Not sure if this has been posted before, nor am I sure that this article is considered general highway talk or off-topic. Nonetheless I found this article to be interesting about the current state and future state of the infrastructure.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20110917/US.Broken.Budgets.Transportation/

[formulanone]

Yeah, it's only getting worse, and nobody wants to pay for it. Car and Driver had an article in their June 2011 issue, and despite most of the staff being politically right-leaning, they basically suggested raise gas taxes or charge tolls (but ideally both):

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/11q2/the_state_of_the_union_s_roads_an_investigative_report-feature

(Edit as necessary if you think I'm dragging politics into this post; it's definitely not my forte, anyhow...I couldn't argue my way out of a wet cardboard box.)

[roadfro]

No doubt we need to improve our highways. A point touched on by the first article is very true: Americans generally agree we need to improve our roads and transportation infrastructure, yet are unwilling to pay more or increase taxes to get that done...like the money will magically come out of thin air...

Washoe County, NV, passed a voter-approved tax a few years ago, quite surprisingly. The RTC-5 initiative increased fuel taxes (I believe) for road rehab in the Reno-Sparks area--with the economic downturn bringing in construction bids lower than anticipated, these dollars have actually been able to accelerate some reconstruction projects in the region.

[J N Winkler]

No doubt we need to improve our highways. A point touched on by the first article is very true: Americans generally agree we need to improve our roads and transportation infrastructure, yet are unwilling to pay more or increase taxes to get that done...like the money will magically come out of thin air...

I don't think that is altogether true.  It is certainly true that the last increase in the federal fuel tax (during the Clinton administration) was seen as very difficult to obtain, and that increases in state fuel taxes are seen as a "third rail" in many statehouses, but aside from that there is considerable regional variation.  Washington state and Arizona, for example, have had good luck with tax increases to finance transportation improvements.

I don't think the public in most states automatically opposes tax increases for transportation per se.  But, compared to the period of prudential investment back in the 1950's and 1960's, people are much less willing to trust government to take a tax increase and choose projects wisely once it passes into law.  Rather, there is a strong expectation that a construction program will be developed before the tax increase is sought, so that the quid pro quo--more specific projects for more taxes--is explicit and obvious.

Washoe County, NV, passed a voter-approved tax a few years ago, quite surprisingly. The RTC-5 initiative increased fuel taxes (I believe) for road rehab in the Reno-Sparks area--with the economic downturn bringing in construction bids lower than anticipated, these dollars have actually been able to accelerate some reconstruction projects in the region.

I'd bet the publicity for the increase mentioned specific projects that were to be done with the additional money.

[pianocello]

I don't think the public in most states automatically opposes tax increases for transportation per se.  But, compared to the period of prudential investment back in the 1950's and 1960's, people are much less willing to trust government to take a tax increase and choose projects wisely once it passes into law.  Rather, there is a strong expectation that a construction program will be developed before the tax increase is sought, so that the quid pro quo--more specific projects for more taxes--is explicit and obvious.

I have a reason for that: loss of trust in our government. I'm pretty sure the way the American public sees it is that "I'll gladly invest in these projects once I know for a fact my money will go somewhere useful". It's sad that this country has come to this.

[jjakucyk]

Loss of trust in the government yes, but also I think people are starting to realize the diminishing returns on the infrastructure we're building today.  In the 50s and 60s new highways improved access and mobility to a lot of places in ways that were previously unimaginable.  Since then though, we've been spending huge amounts of money for only marginal gains.  Widen this interstate and build massive new interchanges, spending hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, to get the LoS from a D to a C.  Is this really worthwhile?  Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, there's also the issue that roads and highways aren't new and different anymore.  More spending and more building just gives us more of the same strip malls and subdivisions and office parks, and that simply doesn't inspire people anymore.

[roadfro]

Washoe County, NV, passed a voter-approved tax a few years ago, quite surprisingly. The RTC-5 initiative increased fuel taxes (I believe) for road rehab in the Reno-Sparks area--with the economic downturn bringing in construction bids lower than anticipated, these dollars have actually been able to accelerate some reconstruction projects in the region.

I'd bet the publicity for the increase mentioned specific projects that were to be done with the additional money.

There may have been a couple specific project proposals mentioned, but the majority of the projects completed with RTC-5 funds were not widely publicized prior to the measure's passing.

[realjd]

The problem with raising the gas tax is that it most heavily hits the shipping industry. With our economy so dependent on trucks carrying goods, any increase in gas taxes will result in higher prices on the shelf for everything from milk to clothes.

I already give a a quarter of my paycheck to the government; they don't need any more. The issue isn't that they need more money. The issue is that they waste the money they have rather than spend it on important things like infrastructure.

[jjakucyk]

But the shipping industry causes the most wear and tear on the roads.  They SHOULD be the most heavily hit.  It's called paying for what you use.  Trucks shouldn't get a free pass. 

If properly compensating the government for the infrastructure they use becomes too burdensome, then shipping companies should shift to other modes that are more cost-effective.  We ship way too much really heavy stuff by trucks, which should be going by trains or barges instead.

The problem is that the road system in this country is so under-priced that it's distorted the market for transporting goods and people severely.  We think this is normal because it's been going on for so long, but it really isn't.  Because of this distortion, we have to keep pouring more and more money into road projects to try to satisfy demand.  But that demand will never be satisfied when the cost is so low (and also hidden/time-displaced through indirect fees), which only makes it that much harder to fund such projects. 

We need to bring some balance back into the transportation network.  It's just like having a diversified stock portfolio, which mitigates risk.  Right now though, all our money is betting on oil, which has worked OK so far, but it's very risky for obvious reasons.  Yes there are spending problems in the government, but there's also revenue problems.  We've been increasing spending AND lowering taxes for decades.  The two simply can't coexist, and we'll need to both cut spending and raise taxes to get out of the bind we're in.  An increased gas tax would be a very good place to start.

[Brandon]

The problem with raising the gas tax is that it most heavily hits the shipping industry. With our economy so dependent on trucks carrying goods, any increase in gas taxes will result in higher prices on the shelf for everything from milk to clothes.

I already give a a quarter of my paycheck to the government; they don't need any more. The issue isn't that they need more money. The issue is that they waste the money they have rather than spend it on important things like infrastructure.

1. This only hits trucks if raised on diesel.  A raise on gasoline does nothing to affect the shipping industry.
2. Trains, where the bulk of freight is shipped, are not taxed on diesel as trucks are.  Neither are towboats.  Only trucks would be affected by a raise in the diesel tax.