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 Reason's Robert Poole, who has advised the last four presidential administrations on transportation issues, appears on Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor.
"The Reason Foundation in Los Angeles is the nation's foremost expert in free-market transportation alternatives such as toll roads and express highway lanes for commuter buses."
The Wall Street Journal
"For 17 years, Mr. Poole has been the chief theorist for private solutions to gridlock. His ideas are now embraced by officials from Sacramento to Washington."
The New York Times
"Truck-only toll lanes are the brainchild of Robert Poole, an engineer who oversees transportation studies at the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank in Los Angeles."
- USA Today
Study: Pennsylvania Turnpike Is One of the Country's Least Cost-Efficient Toll Roads
Report shows that recent Democratic Caucus study on possible Turnpike Lease is "unusable" and "seriously flawed"
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the country's least cost-efficient toll roads, spending a whopping 62.4 percent of its toll revenues on operating and maintenance costs. Of 35 toll roads studied, only the Massachusetts and West Virginia turnpikes spend a higher percentage of their toll revenues on operating costs, according to a new report by the Reason Foundation, a free market think tank that has advised the last four presidential administration on transportation issues. By comparison, the New York State Thruway has 51 percent more lane miles and handles 83 percent more vehicle miles traveled than the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but its annual costs are $39 million lower. Over the last seven years the Pennsylvania Turnpike's operating costs have more than doubled from $181 million in fiscal 2000 to $370 million in fiscal 2007. During that same time, the U.S. inflation rate was 23.4 percent, so the Turnpike's costs grew at 4.5 times the rate of inflation.
» Full Policy Brief (.pdf)
» Press Release
State-by-State Ranking of Deficient Bridges
Of the 596,980 highway bridges in the current National Bridge Inventory, 147,913 24.52 percent were reported deficient in 2005, according to the Reason Foundation's Annual Highway Performance Report, which was released in June. The Reason Foundation study finds at the current rate of repair it will take 50 years to fix today's deficient bridges. Nevada has the lowest percentage of deficient bridges, 3.89 percent. Minnesota, where this week's tragic bridge collapse occurred, ranked 5th in the nation, with 13 percent of its bridges deemed deficient. Rhode Island's bridges are in the worst shape with over half, 53.01 percent, of the state's bridges qualifying as deficient. In all there are 36 states where at least 20 percent of the bridges are deficient and 48 states where at least 10 percent of bridges are deficient.
» Press Release
» Chart
» Full Study
Annual Report: Road Condition Improves But Traffic Congestion, Highway Fatalities Rise
North Dakota, South Carolina have nation's most cost-effective road systems;
New Jersey is home to nation's worst overall road system for eighth straight year
Nearly 52 percent of U.S. urban Interstates are now congested and traffic fatality rates rose slightly, but road surface conditions and bridge conditions improved according to the Reason Foundation's latest annual highway performance report. The Reason Foundation study measures the performance of state-owned roads and highways from 1984 to 2005 in 12 categories, including traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance and administrative costs, to determine each states ranking and cost-effectiveness. In the overall rankings, North Dakota and South Carolina took the top spots for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, New Jersey's gridlocked highways, poor pavement conditions and high repair costs put the state last in overall cost-effectiveness for the eighth consecutive year. To see how your state fared, please click here.
» Full Report
» Press Release
» Reason's Galvin Project to End Congestion
Study: Many Cities Face Los Angeles-Like Traffic Jams
Traffic delays to increase by over 65 percent;
$533 billion worth of added road capacity needed in US
How bad is your commute going to get? Traffic delays will increase 65 percent and the number of congested lane-miles on urban roads will rise by 50 percent over the next 25 years. Los Angeles, home to the nation's worst traffic today, will continue to have the longest delays, with trips during peak hours taking nearly twice as long as they do when roads are free-flowing. But LA wont be alone. Several cities face the dubious honor of having Los Angeles-like gridlock.
By 2030, drivers in 11 metro areas Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland, San Francisco-Oakland, Seattle-Tacoma, and Washington, D.C. - will be stuck in daily traffic jams that are as bad as or worse than today's infamous bottlenecks in Los Angeles, according to a new Reason Foundation study. In those cities it will take at least 75 percent longer to make a trip during peak hours than off-peak periods. So, for example, a trip that is supposed to take 30 minutes would take over 52 minutes.
Today, only four cities (LA, Chicago, San Francisco , and Washington, D.C.) experience travel time delays of even 50 percent. But, because road capacity is failing to keep up with demand and population growth, the Reason study finds that a whopping 30 cities will be experiencing daily delays that make rush hour trips 50 percent longer than off-peak journeys.
The full study, examining long-term traffic congestion levels and road capacity needs in every state and over 400 US cities, is here:
» Building Roads to Reduce Traffic Congestion in America's Cities: How Much and at What Cost?
» Press Release
Robert Poole's E-Newsletter
Surface Transportation Innovations
Reason Foundation's Surface Transportation Innovations newsletter regularly examines and analyzes the latest news and developments in toll lanes, congestion solutions, road funding issues, and more. If you would like to receive the Surface Transportation Innovations newsletter via email, please send an email with your contact information to Robert Poole, Reason's director of transportation studies
» Latest Issue: June 2008
» Archives
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Leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
May 2008
By Commonwealth Foundation and Reason Foundation
» News Release
» Full Policy Brief (.pdf)
Missouri's Changing Transportation Paradigm
February 2008
By David Stokes, Leonard C. Gilroy, and Samuel R. Staley
» Full Report (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
Miami Toll Truckway: Preliminary Feasibility Study
November 2007
Policy Study 365
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Text (.pdf)
Raising Gas Taxes Won't Fix Our Bridges
October 2007
Talking Points
By Adrian T. Moore, Ph.D.
» Full Text (.pdf)
Why Mobility Matters to Personal Life
July 2007
Policy Brief 62
By Ted Balaker
» Full Brief (.pdf)
16th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems (19842005)
June 2007
Policy Study 360
By David T. Hartgen, Ph.D., P.E., and Ravi K. Karanam
» Press Release
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Map, Tables, and More Materials from this Study
Leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike: A Response to Critics of Gov. Rendell's Plan
June 2007
Working Paper
By Peter Samuel and Geoffrey Segal
» Full Study (.pdf)
Tolling and Public-Private Partnerships in Texas: Separating Myth from Fact
May 2007
Working Paper
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Press Release
The Role of Tolls in Financing 21st Century Highways
May 2007
Policy Study 359
By Peter Samuel and Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Press Release
Density in Atlanta: Implications for Traffic and Transit
April 2007
Policy Brief 61
By Alain Bertaud and Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Brief (.pdf)
» Press Release
Leasing State Toll Roads: Frequently Asked Questions
March 2007
Policy Brief 60
By Peter Samuel
» Full Brief (.pdf)
HOT Lanes: Frequently Asked Questions
March 2007
Policy Brief 59
By Leonard C. Gilroy and Amy Pelletier
» Full Brief (.pdf)
Building New Roads Through Public-Private Partnerships: Frequently Asked Questions
March 2007
Policy Brief 58
By Leonard C. Gilroy, Robert W. Poole, Jr., Peter Samuel, and Geoffrey Segal
» Full Brief (.pdf)
Reducing Congestion in Atlanta: A Bold New Approach to Increasing Mobility
November 2006
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Atlanta's Traffic Levels in 2030
» Press Release
15th Annual Report Performance of State Highway Systems (19842004)
October 2006
By David T. Hartgen, Ph.D., P.E., and Ravi K. Karanam
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Performance of State Highway Systems Interactive Map
Innovative Roadway Design:
Making Highways More Likeable
September 2006
By Peter Samuel
» Full Study (.pdf)
Building Roads to Reduce Traffic Congestion in America's Cities: How Much and at What Cost?
August 2006
By David T. Hartgen, Ph.D., P.E., and M. Gregory Fields
» Full Study (.pdf)
» State-by-State Traffic Delays Data and Road Capacity Needs
» Press Release
» Maps, Rankings, and More Materials from this Study
Why Mobility Matters
August 2006
By Ted Balaker
» Full Brief (.pdf)
Adding FAST Lanes to Milwaukee's Freeways: Congestion Relief, Improved Transit, and Help with Funding Reconstruction
February 2006
By Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Kevin Soucie
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Press Release
The Quiet Success: Telecommuting's Impact on Transportation and Beyond
November 2005
By Ted Balaker
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Press Release
Virtual Exclusive Busways: Improving Urban Transit While Relieving Congestion
September 2005
By Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Ted Balaker
» Full Text (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Press Release
Rail Disasters 2005
June 2005
By Randal O'Toole
» Full Study (.pdf)
Should States Sell Their Toll Roads?
June 2005
By Peter Samuel
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Press Release
The Orange County Toll Roads: Largely Successful
March 2005
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Brief (.pdf)
Orange County's 91 Express Lanes: A Transportation and Financial Success, Despite Political Problems
March 2005
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Brief (.pdf)
Easing California's Transportation Crisis with Tolls and Public-Private Partnerships
January 2005
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Press Release
Past Performance vs. Future Hopes: Will Urban Rail Improve Mobility in North Carolina?
June 2004
By Ted Balaker
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
Great Rail Disasters: The Impact of Rail Transit on Urban Livability
February 2004
By Randal O'Toole
» Full Study (.pdf)
Corridors for Toll Truckways: Suggested Locations for Pilot Projects
February 2004
By Robert W. Poole, Jr., and Peter Samuel
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Map (.pdf)
Transportation Costs and the American Dream
September 2003
By Randall O'Toole
» Full Brief (.pdf)
San Jose Demonstrates the Limits of Urban Growth Boundaries and Urban Rail
March 2003
By Randall O'Toole
» Full Study (.pdf)
Contracting for Road and Highway Maintenance
March 2003
By Geoffrey F. Segal, Adrian T. Moore, and Samuel McCarthy
» Full Text (.pdf)
HOT Networks: A New Plan for Congestion Relief and Better Transit
February 2003
By Robert W. Poole, Jr. and C. Kenneth Orski
» Full Study (.pdf)
Rebuilding the Marquette Interchange Via a Public-private Partnership
February 2003
By Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Kevin Soucie with Daryl Fleming and Tom McDaniel
» Full Study (.pdf)
Commercializing Highways: A "Road-Utility" Paradigm for the 21st Century
August 2002
By Robert W. Poole, Jr.
» Full Brief (html)
Toll Truckways: A New Path Toward Safer and More Efficient Freight Transportation
June 2002
By Peter Samuel, Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Jose Holguin-Veras
» Full Study (.pdf)
» Policy Summary (.pdf)
» Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf)
More Transportation Studies
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Why There Won't Be a Big Gas Tax Increase
Best solution is to narrow the federal role, remove obstacles to tolling, public-private partnerships
June 2008 | Public Works Financing
By Robert Poole, Reason
» Full Text
Another One Bites the Dust
Another toll-road myth -- that governments can access cheaper infrastructure financing than the private sector -- has been demolished
June 23, 2008 | Bacon's Rebellion
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
The Myth of the Gas Price "Crisis"
Drivers, carmakers and oil companies will respond to the market
June 19, 2008 | Reason.org
By Sam Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Tax Increases Are Wrong Fix for Virginia's Congestion Woes
State needs to turn to innovative solutions, not tax increases
June 4, 2008 | Reason.org
By Shirley Ybarra, Reason
» Full Text
Pension Funds and Infrastructure Investment
Only privately financed and operated infrastructure makes sense for pension fund investment
May 2008 | Public Works Financing
By Robert Poole, Reason
» Full Text
Tunnels Are Part of the Traffic Solution
New tunneling techniques can ease Atlanta's congestion crisis
May 27, 2008| Reason.org
By Amanda Kathryn Hydro
» Full Text
L.A. Should Seize Opportunity and Federal Funds to Ease Congestion
Toll road plan a good start to reducing traffic
May 26, 2008 | Los Angeles Business Journal
By Adrian Moore, Reason
» Full Text
As Gas Prices Rise-We'll Adapt
Government shouldn't meddle in oil and gas market
May 22, 2008 | Reason.org
By Samuel Staley, Reason
» Full Text
Turnpike Lease a Better Deal for Taxpayers, Drivers
$12.8 billion Turnpike bid should be the final nail in Act 44's coffin
May 20, 2008 | Reason.org
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Virginia Saving Money With Fixed-Price Interstate Maintenance Deal
Florida and international community have demonstrated there are significant savings to be had
May 8, 2008 | Reason.org
By Shirley Ybarra, Reason
» Full Text
Stretching the Highway Dollar
Virginia can get more mileage out of transportation spending by prioritizing congestion relief, using performance-based planning, and outsourcing maintenance
May 5, 2008 | Bacon's Rebellion
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Infrastructure Investment, Congestion and Rail
Interview with BNSF Railroads' Matthew Rose
May 1, 2008| Reason.org
By Amanda Kathryn Hydro
» Full Text
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Numbers War
Flawed Democratic Caucus report commits serious analytical errors in its public/private comparison
April 2008 | Public Works Financing
By Robert Poole, Reason
» Full Text
Feds Don't Need Bigger Role in Public-Private Partnerships
States can best determine what works for their own road projects
April 1, 2008 | Reason.org
By Shirley Ybarra, Reason
» Full Text
Private Sector Has the Key to Traffic Woes in Arizona
Legislature needs to authorize public-private partnerships to reduce gridlock, improve economic competitiveness
March 30, 2008 | Arizona Republic
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Greenway Toll Bill Could Make it Harder to Fund, Build Roads
The unilateral rewriting of the Dulles Greenway legislation sends a bad signal to potential investors in Virginia roads
March 24, 2008 | Bacon's Rebellion
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Battle Continues Over Highway Paradigm Shift
Debate over federal role in highways offers challenges-and opportunities-for proponents of the toll concession paradigm
Febuary 2008 | Public Works Financing
By Robert Poole, Reason
» Full Text
Preventing Overseas Firms From Leasing Roads Is Costly
Banning foreign firms from a Turnpike lease would hurt the Commonwealth's economy
February 27, 2008 | Philadelphia Inquirer
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason and Matthew Brouillette
» Full Text
New Toll Road Opens in San Diego
Interview with Greg Hulsizer, CEO of the South Bay Expressway Toll Road
February 26, 2008 | Reason.org
By Adam Summers, Reason
» Full Text
Assessing the National Commission's Report
Report raises some important points, but misses the boat on large-scale programmatic changes
January 2008 | Public Works Financing
By Robert Poole, Reason
» Full Text
Public-Private Partnerships in Texas Transportation
Reason Interview with Texas State Representative Mike Krusee
January 28, 2008 | Reason.org
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Spend Transportation Dollars on Transportation
Virginia continues to raid funds intended for infrastructure
January 26, 2008 | Washington Examiner
By Shirley Ybarra, Reason
» Full Text
Convert Los Angeles' Carpool Lanes to Toll Lanes
Toll lanes a HOT idea whose time has come
January 25, 2008 | Los Angeles Daily News
By Robert Poole, Reason
» Full Text
Greenway Toll Opponents Threaten Mobility
Legislative witch hunt would scare off private investors in Virginia road projects
January 1, 2008 | Washington Examiner
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
Reflections of a Texas Transportation Trailblazer
Reason interview with Ric Williamson, Chairman, Texas Transportation Commission
December 31, 2007 | Reason.org
By Leonard Gilroy, Reason
» Full Text
More Transportation Op-Eds and Commentaries
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