Jay Derr
Transportation Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
Jay Derr is a transportation policy analyst at the Reason Foundation.
A Louisiana native, Derr attended Louisiana State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree with a major in political science and a minor in history.
Before joining Reason, Derr worked at the Pelican Institute for Public Policy.
-
Oregon advances per-mile road fees to replace gas taxes
States are taking steps to establish per-mile vehicle fees rather than per-gallon gas taxes to ensure that all drivers pay for their road use.
-
29th Annual Highway Report: Virginia and Georgia have best-performing, most cost-effective highways, while Alaska and California have worst
The study examines every state's roads and bridges in 13 categories, including traffic fatalities, pavement condition, congestion, deficient bridges, and spending.
-
29th Annual Highway Report: Summary of findings and rankings
Four of the top five states, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio, rank among the 15 most populous states in the country.
-
-
Airports need far better data and more transparency
Airport information reported to Federal Aviation Administration is often incomplete, inaccurate, or missing.
-
Evaluating Amtrak and intercity bus performance for smarter federal investment
Six of the eight Amtrak routes examined are losing more than $100 per passenger.
-
Comparing Amtrak and bus service in key corridors
The average per-passenger subsidy on the eight Amtrak routes examined in this study was $109.85 per rider.
-
A chance to unlock the full potential of public-private partnerships in water infrastructure
Congress should use the 2026 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization to enable more public-private partnerships.
-
The Army Corps of Engineers is failing to disburse port funding
Congress should allocate the funds that ports have planned for and were promised rather than allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to circumvent congressional intent.
-
Trump’s unchecked tariff power is undermining U.S. economy and freight stability
The easiest solution to this problem is for Congress to reassert its authority on trade, though it seems unwilling to do so—so far.
-
Louisiana passes public-private partnership bill for toll road project to Port of New Orleans
A well-executed St. Bernard road corridor public-private partnership offers faster timelines, stronger budget safeguards, and measurable performance guarantees.
-
Navigating port funding: Alternatives for reforming the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
By addressing the existing inequities and compliance challenges, the U.S. can move toward a more equitable and effective funding mechanism for seaports.
-
Analyzing the Trump administration’s tariff policies and goals
The Trump administration’s tariff gambit has proven itself far more reversible than resolute.
-
Louisiana House Bill 687 could improve shipping and boost regional economy
Public-private partnerships offer a pathway for delivering major infrastructure on time, with less public-sector risk, and with the potential for long-term savings.
-
Annual Surface Transportation Infrastructure Report 2025
It was a strong year for global public-private partnership activity with 43 surface transportation project closings worth $11.9 billion.
-
The federal ban on New York’s cordon pricing experiment is bad policy
Innovation in urban policy is a necessary step toward more efficient cities and freer-flowing traffic.
-
Hawaiian company challenges the constitutionality of the Jones Act
A new lawsuit argues the Jones Act raises costs, reduces competition and hurts consumers and businesses in Hawaii.
-
