M obility Matters and a private entity to build, maintain, and or operate a new or existing highway facility. These projects often create a new opportunity for highway travel and the government assumes no financial risk if the project fails. However, when PPPs are used to “lease” and privatize existing public road capacity, the deals can be dangerously unfair to existing motorists and truckers who are held hostage to substantial toll increases. AASHTO determined that PPP strategies could provide up to 9 percent of needed funding for our highway system. The fuel tax and possibly general funds will still need to be the dominant source of federal highway funds for many years. In some cases, it is reasonable to use tolls and PPPs for newly constructed roads and lanes. But proven consistency of the federal fuel tax provides more transparent solution to financing surface transportation reauthorization.
decay. We have the option to continue down our current path, neglecting infrastructure until it is too late to reverse the damage already done. Or, we can properly invest in our nation’s highway and infrastructure systems to ensure a prosperous tomorrow. Much like past generations did for us, we have the opportunity to build and maintain a world-class system that promotes American commerce and jobs. The American Highway Users Alliance believes today’s motorists deserve better and tomorrow’s drivers should be afforded the robust investments we were. America’s highways are the key to long-term economic growth and jobs for American workers. Jason Statler is a Senior at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. His work at the American Highway Users Alliance has been focused on grassroots outreach, strategic planning, and transportation research. He has also recently worked for the American Trucking Associations in Arlington, Virginia and the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives in Harrisuburg, Pennsylvania.
As a community, we are at a crossroads. Our highway system, which was once the envy of the world, has fallen into
Why is Transportation Demand Management (TDM) the Best Investment for Public Health?
individuals.” Although, public health has evolved over time, it has only grown in scope and incorporates more sectors and industries. Before the economic recession, sustainability was the big buzzword. Sustainability, for the most part sense was focused on getting projects and developments to achieve the triple bottom line (equity, environment, and economics). Early on sustainability was a luxury option, then morphed into necessary requirement for firms that were concerned with their public image. Then as the recession hit some firms refocused around sustainability while others began to perceive it once again as a luxury option. The Obama administration early on understood the importance of sustainability and took it to the next level by supporting and creating the HUD, DOT, and EPA Sustainable Communities Initiative. This led to the new “livability” criteria that many federal departments now employ when ranking and rating projects.
by Alan Huynh In the world of transportation, two main components get the most discussion; design and planning. Those two components often look over the more vital funding and programming, but thus the nature of the beast. So whenever there is discussion about transportation, the talks always lead back to design and planning. Much like in the world of health the discussion usually turns back to doctors and medicine. If one gets sick they see the doctor. If a street is too congested, they can have design add a lane. If there is a pandemic then a vaccine or drug will be prescribed to fight off the disease. If there is a community problem then planning will prescribe a TOD or transit system. But like in public health, many are trying to lead the discussion back to preventative care rather than keep the status quo fixated on doctors and medicine. Transportation demand management for lack of a better comparison is the preventative care option for the transportation discussion. Thus in many ways is the most important tool that can leverage transportation to fix America’s public health problem.
Livability, a term used to describe the synergies found between housing, transportation, and the environment, has finally incorporated sustainability with public health, education, economics, and continues to continue connecting other sectors that have holistic synergies. What synergies do public health and transportation share?
C.E.A Winslow defined public health as, “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and
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