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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Analyzing the Trump administration’s tariff policies and goals
The Trump administration’s tariff gambit has proven itself far more reversible than resolute.
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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.
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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.
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Port of Portland turning operations at Terminal 6 over to a private company is a positive step
The deal is a significant step towards revitalizing Oregon's only international container terminal.
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Transit systems can use parking apps to help attract riders
Parking apps can play a role in improving transit ridership and reliability.
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NASA should consider switching to SpaceX Starship for future missions
The reusability of Starship would be a key factor in reducing launch costs, making space more accessible and allowing for more frequent missions.
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The US needs to reform harbor fees to encourage more equitable trading
A user fee based on tonnage appears to be the most promising solution.
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Airlines should learn from CrowdStrike outage
After cancelling thousands of flights due to CrowdStrike’s outage, airlines ought to focus on IT system resilience efforts.
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The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 has some promising reforms, and many missed opportunities
Congress has made some good changes in the latest version of the biennial legislation but seems overwhelmingly content with the status quo.
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Changes to federal port fund are helping some major ports
Changes to budget cap formulas for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and added spending criteria benefit donor ports that have bankrolled the fund.
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Computer software can help solve the overnight truck parking problem
State governments should examine and implement cost-effective technologies that could help truckers find the best places to park.
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The Foreign Dredge Act increases costs and will slow the Key Bridge cleanup
The antiquated Foreign Dredge Act of 1906 has long-hindered U.S. port development and slowed recovery efforts in emergencies.
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U.S. tariffs on China have failed miserably
Instead of extending these failed tariffs and trade policies, they ought to be repealed.
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Georgia shouldn’t block the development of private SeaPoint Terminal
The Georgia Ports Authority and Port of Savannah are fighting efforts to privately build the SeaPoint Terminal.