Overview of a Timely Publication

1. Overview of a Timely Publication

2. Our highway system is critical • Transportation’s importance has been recognized since colonial times • National defense • Economic vitality • Quality of life • Transportation affects every aspect of our lives • Product (shipping) costs • Travel costs • Productive time • Available discretionary time • Stress

3. 400 years of travel (a brief history of the highway system)

4. 18th Century Highways – the Braddock Road

5. The 18th Century - trails

6. The 19th Century – turnpikes and plank roads Plank roads constructed by private companies at no cost to communities • Private roads disappeared due to • Low return on investment • Over-regulation • Availability of other modes

7. 20th Century - highways 1920’s Bureau of Public Roads distributed Federal funds for network of 2-lane roads and to spur employment 1950’s Federal highway Administration began construction of the 46,000 mile interstate system

8. What’s next? • Continued progress • Use of advanced technology • Safer roads • More reliable trips • or • Slow deterioration • Increased congestion • Funding gridlock • Less responsive public agencies

9. A focus on the future

10. A potentially ugly future Vehicle Miles of Travel Roadway Capacity

11. The system is in trouble • Lack of public understanding • No money • Increasing demand • Driving our modern cars on broken roads

12. Examining solutions • Near term solutions • Mobility • Safety • Longer term solutions • Funding alternatives • Changing the culture • What if we do nothing?

13. First – Let’s take a test

14. The U.S. has the most advanced transportation system In the world (true or false?)

15. Answer: The US is just beginning to implement advanced technology that is routinely used by the rest of throughout much of the world.

16. Let’s improve mobility Mobility is the ability to reliably get from Point A to point B within a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost. Mobility can be improved with effective management of the roadway system

17. We’ve got a full toolkit details to follow • Traffic signals • Ramp metering • Incident management • Electronic payment (tolls, HOT lanes, etc.) • Lane management (shoulders, HOV, HOT) • Route diversion • Variable speed limits • Traveler information systems • Etc.

18. Traffic Signals • Benefits of improved signal timing include: • Travel time reduced as much as 25% • Emissions reduced up to 22% • Fuel consumption reduce up to 10% • Better signal timing could save each motorist as much as50 gallons/year • Why does the public accept poor operation?

19. Ramp Metering on Freeways • Controls traffic entering the freeway • Keeps freeway flowing smoothly • Benefits measured in Minnesota: • Travel time reduced 22% • Accidents reduced 25%

20. So why aren’t we making full use of these tools?

21. Let’s Improve Safety

22. The us is a world leader in highway safety (true or false?)

23. Answer: The US ranks 13th in a list of 15 European nation’s. Only Turkey and Greece have more dangerous roads. UK 3.4 deaths/100,000 US 12.3 deaths/100,000 Greece 14.4 deaths/100,000

24. 40 Years of US Fatalities 2,000,000 1,000,000 1,600,000 58,200 60,000 40,000 20,000 4,5000 1,600 269 Iraq Viet Nam Automobile Afghanistan Persian Gulf

25. The Australian’s figured it out • The State of Victoria, Australia • Greatly increased penalties for drunk driving • Increased probationary license period to three years • Increased speed enforcement • Increased traffic stops • Increased public education • Fatality rate decreased by 60% (one-half the US fatality rate) • Success due to • Political support • Sound and realistic plan key point

26. Let’s Change the Culture

27. Agencies must be more responsive • Improved customer service – Do you know who to call? • Increased performance measurement – Do you know how your agency is doing? • Get the politicians out of the picture – Who should make the transportation decisions?

28. Resources ($) needed for long-term solutions

29. How much has the fuel tax increased since 1993?

30. Answer: The Federal gas tax has been fixed at 18.4¢ gallon since 1993. The tax is NOT indexed for inflation. A 33% loss in purchasing power has occurred during that time.

31. What are the alternatives? • Higher gas taxes • Tolls, HOT lanes, congestion pricing • Increased fees (registration, licenses, etc.) • Privately constructed and operated roads • Vehicle miles of travel (VMT) pricing • Transportation utility fees

32. A creative alternative • Privatize the transportation system • Create and investor owned transportation utility • Financed by transportation utility fee • Oversight by public utility commission • Advantages • Minimizes legislative micro-management • Freed from dependence on annual appropriations • Avoids categorical funding • Staff incentives possible

33. The problem can’t be ignored • Let’s improve mobility • Let’s improve safety • Let’s improve accountability • Let’s change the funding paradigm

34. Everyone suffers from inaction • Increased travel time • Higher shipping costs • Poor air quality • Degraded transit service

35. We have a system worth saving

36. Read all about it in…