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Samuel Staley

Research Fellow
Reason Foundation
sam.staley@reason.org
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Bio
Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D. is a senior research fellow at Reason Foundation and associate director of the DeVoe L. Moore Center at Florida State University in Tallahassee where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in urban planning, regulation, and urban economics. Prior to joining Florida State, Staley was director of urban growth and land-use policy for Reason Foundation where he helped establish its urban policy program in 1997.
Staley is the author of several books, most recently co-authoring Mobility First: A New Vision for Transportation in a Globally Competitive 21st Century (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008). Texas Gov. Rick Perry aid Staley and Moore “get it right” and world bank urban planner Alain Bartaud called it “a must read for urban managers of large cities in the United States and around the world.”
He is also co-author, with Ted Balaker, of The Road More Traveled: Why The Congestion Crisis Matters More Than You Think, and What We Can Do About It (Rowman and Littlefield, September, 2006). Author Joel Kotkin said, “The Road More Traveled should be required reading not only for planners and their students, but anyone who loves cities and wants them to thrive as real places, not merely as museums, in the 21st Century.” Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said, “Balaker and Staley clearly debunk the myth that there is nothing we can do about congestion.”
Staley's previous book, Smarter Growth: Market-based Strategies for Land-use Planning in the 21st Century (Greenwood Press, 2001), was called the "most thorough challenge yet to regional land-use plans" by Planning magazine.
In addition to these books, he is the author of Drug Policy and the Decline of American Cities (Transaction Publishers, 1992) and Planning Rules and Urban Economic Performance: The Case of Hong Kong (Chinese University Press, 1994).
His more than 100 professional articles, studies, and reports have appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Investor’s Business Daily, Journal of the American Planning Association, Planning magazine, Reason magazine, National Review and many others.
Staley's approach to urban development, transportation and public policy blends more than 20 years of experience as an economic development consultant, academic researcher, urban policy analyst, and community leader.
Staley is a former chair for his local planning board in his hometown of Bellbrook, Ohio. He is also a former member of its Board of Zoning Appeals and Property Review Commission, vice chair of his local park district’s open space master plan committee, and chair of its Charter Review Commission.
Staley received his B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Colby College, M.S. in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State University, and Ph.D. in Public Administration, with concentrations in urban planning and public finance from Ohio State University.
Contributions | Out of Control Blog Posts
- What the U.S. Can Learn from China’s Highway Building Binge
How the user pay principle is being used to advance infrastructure projects
Samuel Staley
March 23, 2012 - China’s Hard Lessons on High-Speed Rail
Why President Obama should look to China on what not to do when it comes to U.S. high-speed rail projects
Samuel Staley
February 28, 2012 - Traffic Congestion and the Economic Decline of Cities
How traffic is costing people jobs and stifling economic growth
Samuel Staley
January 5, 2012 - Taxpayer-Friendly Solutions to America's Transportation Challenges
Seven cost-effective transportation strategies
Samuel Staley, Shirley Ybarra, Erich W. Zimmerman and Nick Donohue
May 16, 2011 - Reason.tv: Three Steps to Get Our Highways Moving Again
Samuel Staley
April 13, 2011 - Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in Local Government
Local Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010
Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny, Samuel Staley and Adam Summers
February 23, 2011 - President Obama, China, High-Speed Rail and the Sputnik Moment
You can't compare China and the U.S. when it comes to needing, using high-speed rail
Samuel Staley
January 26, 2011 - Fluidity and Mobility
It's time to redefine what it means to be middle class.
Samuel Staley
October 12, 2010 - Land Use Key to Understanding Real Solutions to Honolulu Traffic Congestion
Samuel Staley
June 3, 2010 - A National Infrastructure Bank Can Provide Important Benefits If Mission and Scope Are Defined Narrowly
Testimony Before U.S. House Committee
Samuel Staley
May 13, 2010 - States' Rights Versus Obamacare
States look to sue over health care mandates
Samuel Staley
March 26, 2010 - Ten Steps to Brings Jobs and Businesses Back to Cleveland and Other Big Cities
Reducing crime and taxes, improving zoning laws and adding transparency can spur growth
Policy Brief 90
Samuel Staley
March 17, 2010 - Rejuvenating Urban America Through Land Use and Housing Policy Reform
Cleveland Case Study
Policy Brief 91
Samuel Staley
March 17, 2010 - High-Speed Rail Fails As a Jobs Program
Everyone from Rep. Cantor to President Obama promotes inflated job numbers for train plans
Samuel Staley
August 17, 2009 - Parking Pass
Privatization gone wrong
Samuel Staley
August 3, 2009 - Transportation and Mobility Take a Backseat in Obama Administration
The Obertstar highway bill should be shelved and real transportation reforms should be pursued
Samuel Staley
July 17, 2009 - Can the U.S. Copy Spain's High-Speed Rail System?
In America, the reality of high-speed rail will fall far short of the hype
Samuel Staley
June 19, 2009 - Recognizing the Limits of Transit-Oriented Development
Examining whether or not transit and light rail stations drive economic development
Samuel Staley
May 18, 2009 - High-Speed Rail Won't Help the Masses
High ticket prices and too few stops and stations will make them trains for the wealthy
Samuel Staley
May 1, 2009 - Seattle's Long-Range Plan To Beat Traffic Congestion
Expanding capacity, toll roads and private capital are keys to mobility
Samuel Staley
April 24, 2009 - Housing Market Resilience and Affordability in Houston, Texas
Houston's housing market has been more resilient than other Texas cities
Samuel Staley
February 27, 2009 - Energy Reduction and Environmental Sustainability in Surface Transportation
Testimony to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Samuel Staley
January 27, 2009 - The Five Core Principles President Obama Should Follow
Calls for massive stimulus package will make Obama's first 100 days even more critical
Samuel Staley
January 20, 2009 - Making Sure Infrastructure Stimulus Isn't Pork Parade
There were 6,371 earmarks in the last highway bill
Samuel Staley and Adrian Moore
January 7, 2009 - All Infrastructure Spending Is Not Created Equally
Randomly pouring billions of dollars into roads won't fix nation's gridlocked transportation system
Samuel Staley and Adrian Moore
December 5, 2008 - Stop Trying to Force People Out of Cars
Policymakers need to respect America's preference for cars
Samuel Staley
September 21, 2008 - Vice President's Role In Governing Evolves
Sarah Palin and the peculiar odyssey of the modern American vice presidency
Samuel Staley
September 12, 2008 - Sustainable Mobility in American Cities
Road pricing, transit and private sector funding should all play a role
Shirley Ybarra and Samuel Staley
September 8, 2008 - California to Restrict Driving With Latest Global Warming Plan
State seeks to regulate where you can live so it can reduce your driving
Samuel Staley
August 26, 2008 - Dayton, Ohio: The Rise and Fall of a Former Industrial Juggernaut
What Dayton can tell cities about staying competitive in today's global economy
Samuel Staley
August 11, 2008 - A Carbon-Free Electricity System in 10 Years
Gore energy plan may signal the twilight of free economies
Samuel Staley
July 22, 2008 - Gas Tax Increase or Private Capital?
China, Australia, European countries are funding infrastructure with private capital
Samuel Staley
July 16, 2008 - Hey Ohio, Suing Companies Isn't Good for the State's Economy
Litigation strategy reflects poverty of Ohio economic development policy
Samuel Staley
July 10, 2008 - The Future Federal Role for Surface Transportation
Testimony Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Samuel Staley
June 25, 2008 - The Myth of the Gas Price "Crisis"
Drivers, carmakers and oil companies will respond to the market
Samuel Staley
June 19, 2008 - As Gas Prices Rise-We'll Adapt
Government shouldn't meddle in oil and gas market
Samuel Staley
May 22, 2008 - Politicians Must Ignore Urge to "Do Something" About Housing Woes
Officials can do little but ride out housing market crash
Samuel Staley
April 15, 2008 - Cities Can Sell Abandoned Homes in Blocks
Urban revitalization needs to be based on economic realities
Samuel Staley
March 23, 2008 - Eliot Spitzer and the Seduction of Crusader Politics
Hypocritical politicians manipulate system to serve their own agendas
Samuel Staley
March 12, 2008 - Missouri's Changing Transportation Paradigm
David Stokes, Leonard Gilroy and Samuel Staley
February 27, 2008 - Government Bonds and Debt Disguised as "Stimulus"
Strickland's FDR-style stimulus package is no way to help Ohioans
Samuel Staley
February 21, 2008 - Toll Roads or No Roads in Texas
Moratorium on public-private partnerships would threaten mobility, economy, quality of life
Samuel Staley
January 24, 2008 - Is Housing "Crisis" Causing a Recession?
Growing the economy, not more regulation, is the key to ending the housing slump
Samuel Staley
January 22, 2008 - A Congested Economy
How tolls and congestion pricing can reduce air travel and road delays
Samuel Staley
November 25, 2007 - Statewide Growth Management and Housing Affordability in Florida
Samuel Staley and Leonard Gilroy
October 1, 2007 - Technology, Not Transit, Is Key to Improving Mobility
Reducing impacts on the environment through innovation, not transit mandates
Samuel Staley
August 29, 2007 - Highways to Help
New York metro area transportation investments should reflect changing travel, commuting patterns
Samuel Staley
August 5, 2007 - Virginia's Road Crunch
State can beat congestion by prioritizing resources
Samuel Staley and Adam Summers
July 15, 2007 - For Traffic Solutions Think Over the Box
Queue jumpers and tunnels can help ease New York's gridlock
Ted Balaker and Samuel Staley
July 15, 2007 - Stadium Doesn't Guarantee Economic Gains
Oceanside taxpayers should ask serious questions about proposed Chargers stadium
Leonard Gilroy and Samuel Staley
July 1, 2007
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