Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Reducing BAC from .08 to .05 Will Not Significantly Reduce Drunk Driving

May 24, 2013, 8:21am

Baruch Feigenbaum

The NTSB recently recommended reducing the legal Blood Alcohol Content for drunk driving from .08 to .05. Unfortunately, there is little that indicates this will reduce drunk driving. A better solution would be charging these drivers with reckless driving.

I-5 Bridge Collapses; Washington State Ranked 34th In Making Progress on Deficient and Functionally Obsolete Bridges

May 23, 2013, 11:45pm

David T. Hartgen

The Seattle Times reports:

An Interstate 5 bridge collapsed into the Skagit River on Thursday evening, according to the Washington State Patrol. Trooper Mark Francis wrote on Twitter that people and cars are in the water. Both the north bound and south bound lanes were in the water, Francis wrote.

Reason Foundation's study, "Examining 20 Years of U.S. Highway and Bridge Performance Trends," found Washington ranked 34th out of 50 states in terms of making progress reducing its percentage of deficient and functionally obsolete bridges from 1989 to 2008. Overall the findings on functionally obsolete and deficient bridges were:  

Slow Start to L.A.'s Toll Lanes Certain to Gain Speed

Given time optional lanes reduce congestion and provide travel options

May 20, 2013

Baruch Feigenbaum

The new toll lanes on I-10 and I-110 opened with complaints and slower traffic in the general purpose lanes. While frustrating this is not unusual for these type of lane conversions. It takes up to a year for travelers to experience the maximum benefits. Given time the HOT lanes will provide drivers a reliable travel time and a new option.

Give Managed Lane Conversions Time

May 16, 2013, 9:34am

Baruch Feigenbaum

Los Angeles recently converted portions of its I-10 and I-110 HOV lanes to HOT lanes. In the months after the conversions, travel times have decreased for transit vehicles and cars in the HOT lanes but increased for traffic in the general-purpose lanes. In an Op-Ed article for the Los Angeles Daily News I explained that these are part of the growing pains for the Managed Lanes. Users need to give the lanes up to a year to realize the maximum benefits of the conversion.

President Obama's Recycled Transportation Proposals

Here's how the president could ensure funding for infrastructure

May 14, 2013

Robert Poole

President Barack Obama’s transportation budget proposal for fiscal 2014 is basically the same old thing yet again. Replacing the Highway Trust Fund with a much larger Transportation Trust Fund, launching a National Infrastructure Bank, and jump-starting transportation spending with a one-time $50 billion stimulus have all been proposed several times before.

Surface Transportation Newsletter #115

Access to jobs via auto, Inside the transit "black box," and More

May 10, 2013

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• Access to jobs via auto
• Inside the transit "black box"
• Separating managed lanes from GP lanes
• Will Congress address WRDA's problems?
• Major toll projects proliferate
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

 

Innovators in Action 2013

How governments and agencies are using market-based policies to improve services, become more efficient and reduce costs

May 7, 2013

Leonard Gilroy

Edited by Reason Foundation's Leonard Gilroy and Harris Kenny, the Innovators in Action 2013 series profiles a range of innovators who have demonstrated leadership through action on privatization, competition, government re-invention and other market-based policy reforms designed to reduce the costs of government and deliver more value to taxpayers. Innovator interviews or self-penned articles will be added on a monthly basis throughout the year, so be sure to check back frequently for new content.

FedEx Founder Makes the Case for Air Traffic and Highway Improvements

April 26, 2013, 1:27pm

Cathy Reisenwitz

FedEx Founder Fred Smith, a former Reason trustee, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday.

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