Doing some driving for the Memorial Day weekend? Do you expect to be stuck in traffic? Two American Enterprise Institute (AEI) scholars,
Rick Geddes and
Brad Wassink, have
penned a piece for US News & World Report titled "How to Beat Memorial Day Traffic Forever." Here are some highlights:
Given the state of America's highway system, perhaps members of
Congress should be required to drive home for the national holiday as
well.
At fault is an outmoded revenue structure that doesn't adequately
fund the system or allocate revenues efficiently. The National Highway
Trust Fund – through which the bulk of highway construction and
maintenance monies flow – relies on a fuel tax that hasn't been adjusted
for inflation in 20 years. The growing efficiency of cars in the
U.S. compounds the shortfall – the fuel tax brings in considerably less
money from a Prius than it did from a late 90s SUV. These twin forces
ultimately pushed Congress to provide $35 billion in bailouts to the
fund between 2008 and 2010.
A status quo solution would raise the gas tax to fund these needs.
But Congress's willingness to raise the tax depends on Americans'
willingness to accept a hike. And poll after poll shows Americans aren't willing. So where will the money come from?
Several solutions are detailed in the
full article. Happy driving!