I recently read Green Metropolis by David Owen, which started a “what if” thought process. As in–what if we didn’t allow the construction of new public roads or the payment of tolls on roads and bridges roads. I can think of several potential positive developments.
First, roads and bridges are expensive to build and maintain. If we don’t build any more roads, all currently available highway funds can be used to ensure that we properly maintain or improve the roads and bridges that we have. Perhaps we could reverse the massive infrastructure deficit that currently exists.
Second, the gasoline tax funds currently available could be slightly increased to make up for the lost funds currently obtained through tolls. But the formerly lost time and fuel from waiting to pay tolls would be released to productive purposes by leaving it in the pockets of drivers. This would be a boon for business and for personal lifestyles.
Third, suburban sprawl would be somewhat contained. Sprawl hurts our country in various ways. The length of commutes increases and people are required to drive to obtain even basic necessities. This uses more gasoline than it should. The larger houses that are inevitably built consume more resources to build and more energy to maintain than smaller homes built nearer to the source of jobs.
Fourth, and perhaps most important, if our cities and towns can’t grow out, they must either compress or grow up. Either way would be more efficient. New York City is the most energy efficient city in the country. All that living space packed so tightly together helps adjacent units heat and cool each other. And the relative lack of personal transportation means that people use mass transportation, something most of us in the suburbs don’t have much access to.
Obviously this is a truncated discussion, primarily because I’m not a transportation or energy expert. But perhaps there is something to the concept. Perhaps if we all start thinking about ways to improve our country we can come up with ideas that lead to progress.
Lets hope the trend of “Empty Nesters” and Millenials moving to downtowns across our nation will reduce the supply and demand for McMansions that require more land, more roads, bridges, etc. Did I mention I’m so done with taking care of our house and yard that is bigger than what I want and need?
I knew you’d get there eventually. Now pick up a paint brush and get to work.
Yep. The better the idea – the less likely it will be acted upon.
Certainly a moratorium on any new roads makes sense right now given state of existing transportation infrastructure. Removing tolls would be fantastic for the relative few that exist and save fuel, lower blood pressure . . cost few jobs/add to traffic in some instances (?)
Thanks for posting this summary. “The times . . they are a changing” or need to.
This will of course never happen. But it makes some sense. We have to stop adding to our government liabilities at some point.