Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Throwing Money at Bridges Will Not Fix the Problem

June 17, 2013, 3:20pm

Daniel Bier

A near-disaster at the Skagit River Bridge in Washington State sent three people plunging into the river in Washington last month. Poor signage and a functionally obsolete bridge appear to be the major factors. Predictably, bureaucrats and politicians are using this occurrence to demand even more money for unnecessary projects, while critical infrastructure needs are neglected. Voters shouldn’t let bureaucrats reward inefficiency by approving new taxes while existing funds are being frittered away.

Surface Transportation Newsletter #116

VMT growth and the Millennials, Whither autonomous vehicles?, I-5 bridge collapse highlights flawed system

June 12, 2013

Robert Poole

 

In this issue:

• VMT growth and the Millennials
• Whither autonomous vehicles?
• I-5 bridge collapse highlights flawed system
• Americans' highway fee preferences
• Bogus Chinatown bus study
• Upcoming Conferences
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

 

How Much Will Americans Drive In the Future?

The debate over driving trends has implications for future traffic congestion, highway capacity, bridge repairs and more

June 5, 2013

Robert Poole

Leasing the Indiana Toll Road

Reviewing the First Six Years Under Private Operation

May 31, 2013

Leonard Gilroy, David Aloyts

In recent years, some state and local governments have taken steps to turn over the operation of public sector toll roads to private sector investor-operator teams, in order to improve their financial and operational performance and stretch traditional transportation dollars further. To help policymakers elsewhere understand the opportunity leasing public sector toll roads could offer to their jurisdictions, this policy brief examines the results from the Indiana Toll Road lease thus far.

Georgia Should Seek Solutions to Drunk Driving that Work

While too many Americans continue to die from drunk driving, there is little evidence that lowering the BAC from .08 to .05 will work

May 30, 2013

Baruch Feigenbaum

While lowering the Blood Alcohol (BAC) standard from .08 to .05 may sound like a good idea, there is little evidence that the lower standard will save lives. Drivers with a BAC of .01 to .03 were more likely to be involved in a fatal wreck than drivers with a .08 to .10. Authroities should focus instead on reckless driving by increasing penalties and enforcement. If the goal is safer roads, it should not matter if the driver had a beer or was distracted by a cell phone. 

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.

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