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Recent Research and Commentary

Missing Forest Through the Peach Trees on Atlanta Toll Lanes

February 7, 2012, 10:22pm

Samuel Staley

The debate over HOT lanes and tolling new capacity in Atlanta is missing crucial benefits of better management for the road system and the likely reduction in total investment that would come from road pricing.

Reconstructing the Interstates

Why the best way forward for Interstate reconstruction is to remove the caps on the existing Interstate tolling program while maintaining restrictions on the uses of toll revenues.

February 7, 2012

Robert Poole

Many of America's roads need upgrading. But restrictions on toll-financed Interstate reconstruction are keeping that from happening. With those restrictions lifted, many of the nation's roads could be improved from their currently outdated standards.

NYC Parking Under Bloomberg: Bright Potential, Blighted Past

February 3, 2012, 7:41pm

Harris Kenny

This morning Juan Gonzalez of the New York Daily News writes: "The firm that built and manages the new Yankee Stadium parking garages can’t repay $237 million in tax-exempt bonds the Bloomberg administration arranged for it four years ago, new financial records show." However, there is a kernel of optimism in that the Mayor's office is considering leveraging additional city parking assets that actually would create value for residents and motorists.

Virginia Needs to be Cautious and Not Ruin Its Public-Private Partnership Track Record

February 2, 2012, 10:50am

Robert Poole, Shirley Ybarra

Virginia is considered one of the leaders in public-private partnerships since the passage of the Public Private Partnership Act of 1995 (PPTA). But two bills being considered in the state's legislature could change that track record.

Virginia's High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes Changed to 'Express Lanes'

An in-depth look at the highway project

February 1, 2012

Shirley Ybarra

Reason Foundation Senior Transportation Policy Analyst Shirley Ybarra outlines the history leading up to Virginia's Express Lanes project.

 

Florida Toll Agencies Should Not Be Consolidated

OOCEA and THEA need to become fully independent, self-supporting local toll authorities, like MDX

January 30, 2012

Robert Poole, Daryl Fleming

The 2011 Florida legislative session saw several proposals that would have consolidated some or all of the local toll authorities into the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE). Later that year, a Work Group of the Government Efficiency Taskforce (GET) produced a report calling for most of the functions of the local toll authorities of Orlando (OOCEA) and Tampa (THEA) to be consolidated with FTE. The purpose of this study is to assess the arguments for and against the consolidation of toll agencies in Florida.

Our Reason Foundation project team carried out a review of how toll roads and bridges are provided in Florida. Since most of the focus of consolidation proposals is on local toll authorities (LTAs) in the state’s major urban areas, we reviewed how other fast-growing states are using toll finance to add modern toll facilities to their urban expressway systems. We also reviewed two relatively recent toll agency consolidations, in New Jersey and Massachusetts. And we also analyzed the GET Work Group’s estimate of $24 million in annual cost savings from consolidation of OOCEA and THEA with FTE.

New at Reason: Maryland Announces $456m PPP to Redevelop and Operate I-95 Travel Plazas

January 27, 2012, 2:16pm

Leonard Gilroy

In my new Reason.org article today, I explore Maryland's newly announced public-private partnership (PPP) for the redevelopment and operation of two I-95 travel plazas.

Maryland Announces $456m PPP to Redevelop and Operate I-95 Travel Plazas

Deal a win-win for taxpayers, business, state

January 27, 2012

Leonard Gilroy

Earlier this week, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced that it had approved a 35-year public-private partnership (PPP) for the redevelopment and operation of two I-95 travel plazas. The deal could be a win-win for taxpayers and the state.

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