Title: The Next Highway Program: Can This System Be Saved?
Abstract: This article offers a bleak look at the state of highway financing. The author points out that construction costs have increased over 40 percent during the past four years, traffic has risen 40 percent in the past 15 years, and the National Highway Trust Fund is nearly out of money. The author discusses whether or not the public will tolerate a major gas tax hike—perhaps as much as 40 cents--noting that current gas tax levels cannot maintain the current system let alone build new highways and bridges. The author also notes that privatization and tolling alone cannot make up the current short fall, and that a number of industry organizations are advocating both gas tax hikes, other fee increases, and expanding tolling and privatization. The article includes several short accompanying articles that describe succinctly what various industry groups believe will be necessary in terms of funding in coming years, and what can provide that funding.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
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