Transportation funding bill 1 year later...thoughts, observations? (Dallas, Penn: 2015, inspection)

[pman]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

You can opt out if paying fule taxes by not driving, how do I opt out of paying for mass transit?

How do I opt out of paying for assets in money losing regions?

[pman]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

Just so it's clear I support road taxes for roads, shifting money to mass transit is half the reason for the situation we are in now. Roads need to support themselves first and foremost.

Most of the reason is because money is spent on unsustainable growth in roads. The transportation funding system has been broken since it was federalization to build your precious highways. The best answer is to allow states and municipalities to be in the drivers seat for most roads and transit.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by pman

Most of the reason is because money is spent on unsustainable growth in roads. The transportation funding system has been broken since it was federalization to build your precious highways. The best answer is to allow states and municipalities to be in the drivers seat for most roads and transit.

PennDOT already maintains almost as many road miles as New York, New Jersey and New England combined.

By the way, if the amount of traffic in the United States has leveled off in the last 10 years despite several road and highway expansions, then the theory of "induced demand" goes straight out the window because the roads and highways that have been expanded in the last 10 years have failed to induce new demand.

Furthermore, leveling off ≠ decreasing. That means existing bottlenecks still have to be rectified, because while traffic levels aren't going up anymore, they're not going down either. Pennsylvania has several existing bottlenecks that I've highlighted ad nauseum.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by pman

It was a half asset attempt to make up for decades of federal subsidies for highways that included a 90 percent match for highway construction and zero for transit.

If you want to make that argument then we can certainly begin too discuss the subsidies and giveaways to mass transit for the last century and a half. Both are mature forms of transportation and should be able to support themselves.

FYI the full name of the Intestate is:

Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways

Eisenhower's experiences in Germany on the Autobahn played a very big role in the development of the Interstates. While I don't expect an invasion any time soon they will play a crucial role in the defense of this country if that were to occur. They are also absolutely important for any emergency whether it's natural or man made disaster.

[pman]

https://itineranturbanist.wordpress....y-works-again/
Gnutella I am aware of your desires for unlimited highway spending.
http://streets.mn/2014/10/02/chart-o...t-govt-levels/

[pman]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways

Eisenhower's experiences in Germany on the Autobahn played a very big role in the development of the Interstates. While I don't expect an invasion any time soon they will play a crucial role in the defense of this country if that were to occur. They are also absolutely important for any emergency whether it's natural or man made disaster.

They were also originally intended to run between, not through, large cities..sort of how the turnpike with its initial terminus in valley forge was built before it slashed through west fairmount park. It was initially thought foolish to spend enormous sums destroying expensive city land for highways. I guess it was a way to thank railroads for their support in the war effort, rather than repay them the government would subsidize the competition. The reality of course is that much of this was about money, spending it for the benefit of large companies and well connected construction firms just like urban renewal funds.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by pman

They were also originally intended to run between, not through, large cities..

That is certainly a major issue for more reasons than one such as splittng up neighborhoods etc. but I'm not sure how you get around it. If you travel to places like Dallas/Ft. Worth that was largely built around the Interstates it's a different story.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by pman

https://itineranturbanist.wordpress....y-works-again/

If I had store that wasn't profitable to begin with I could certainly increase the amount of people coming into my store by extending hours and slashing prices. That isn't a wise business decision.

Chart of the Day: Transit vs. Highway Spending (Different Gov’t Levels) | streets.mn

Pointless graph without understanding where that funding is coming from. Complaining roads get the lions share of the money is a bit ridiculous when they are generating all the revenue to begin with.

[fisheye]

While we are talking about improvements with the transportation bill; we will all be paying more at the pumps come Thursday: Gas tax will add 10 cents per gallon starting Thursday; registrations, licenses, inspections also increase | PennLive.com. That is only the second round of increases. The PA Turnpike is also going up on the 4th and licensing and registration fees are going up on July 1st.

I just wish that 'proficiency' was the standard requirement for more tax dollars!

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by fisheye

I just wish that 'proficiency' was the standard requirement for more tax dollars!

I agree. However, show me a government that's proficient. My only hope is that the bulk of the new tax revenue is used intelligently.

The one thing I have noticed about this tax increase is that the masses are judging it a failure too soon. Let's wait a few years and see the fruits of our increased taxes. As I and others have noted on this thread, there are multiple (much needed and long overdue) road construction projects that have been advanced several years due to the increased tax revenue. Some of these single projects (such as simple intersection improvements where turning lanes and arrows are added) have the potential to save people $1 per week in gas, let alone time.