Let States Build Their Own Highways

Reason ^ | October 6, 2015 | Veronique de Rugy

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

This change would also free states from the numerous mandates that come with receiving funds from the federal government, like the pro-union Davis-Bacon rules, which unnecessarily increase the cost of transportation projects by approximately 10 percent by requiring heavy use of organized labor, and the Reagan-era law that allows the federal government to withhold 10 percent of a state's highway funds if it dares to allow people under the age of 21 to legally purchase and consume alcohol. These inefficient one-size-fits-all mandates are clear abuses of federal power.

Highway Nanny State PING!

[Paladin2]

Montana and Wyoming have different situations than RI and Delaware.

[Alberta's Child]

There's one big problem with this kind of approach. States will have no real incentive to do any new construction or long-term maintenance on roads through rural areas that connect to the interior of the country. If this doesn't sound plausible, it's important to realize that the earliest pressure in Washington for Federal transportation funding came all the way back in the very early 1800s. The first National Road was constructed as part of the agreement through which Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803. It's no coincidence that the first Federal roads were being built when the first regions with no coastline on the Atlantic Ocean were joining the United States.

This is also (not coincidentally) the same reason why the strongest opposition to this "devolvement" transportation spending strategy comes from Republican Senators representing interior states.

[ConorMacNessa]

As an inmate in the Maryland Archipelago, I take umbrage at having to carry the laboring oar for the highway that passes by my house conveying the millions from North and South who pass through here on their way to Florida or Maine, or points between.

I think they should impose tolls on out-of-staters above and beyond what I have to pay for driving on the highways my taxes paid for.

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[Olog-hai]

Roads were mostly private and tolled until the “Good Roads Movement” appeared in Rhode Island back in 1880, fomented by bicycle-riding “agitators”. Then counties and states started taking over maintenance and charging taxes for upkeep.

[bigbob]

Dumb. Its called “interstate” for a reason.

[Objective Scrutator]

Roads should be handled by private institutions, not government. Central planning fails in all aspects.

[Don W]

Those dang cyclists have always been a thorn, haven’t they ? < VBG >

[Don W]

Those dang cyclists have always been a thorn, haven’t they ? < VBG >

[Rodamala]

I believe the Pennsylvania Turnpike has been under major construction ever since it was a railroad right-of-way.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

It would make sense to keep roadbuilding at the federal level if they were planning to continue to expand the federal network of roads, but they aren't.

Pretty much all they're planning on doing is maintaining what exists and adding in some stupid trains.

If that's the case then the responsibility for maintaining roads and bridges should fall back to the states.

If a state chooses not to maintain its roads then truck traffic will avoid it, tourists will avoid it, etc.

The market should be able to keep states honest and maintain reasonable roads if they want to keep their own people happy and business thriving.

[Alberta's Child]

Pretty much all they're planning on doing is maintaining what exists and adding in some stupid trains.

Maintenance is one thing, but this country's highway needs go way beyond that. A highway generally has a functional life of about 50 years, which means the interstate highway system -- now 59 years old -- is now in a state where it is effectively being reconstructed in its entirety. That is an enormous, expensive undertaking that will eventually cost more than the original construction of the system.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I-95 has a toll next to the Susquehanna River.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

That wouldn’t surprise me.

[vette6387]

Closing down the Federay Highway Administration should also be on Trump/Cruz lists. It’s functions have been in the Agriculture Department, then the Commerce Department, and more recently The Transportation Department. The gas tax was originally set up not to fund roads, but the Federal Government. All three Departments should be shuttered.

[Fai Mao]

As do Kansas and Nebraska and poorer states like Mississippi

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I would really like to see as much responsibility and money as possible be diverted from the feds to the states.

Lower the federal income tax. Expect states and localities to raise their taxes. Then use that additional state/local tax money to maintain/rebuild the roads.

I know that as a conservative I'm supposed to argue for lower taxes across the board. However, I'm OK in the short run with tax collection and spending moving from the feds to the states and cities.

[napscoordinator]

Typically I would agree, but after the disaster that is the Golden Gate Bridge which is a private company who did it..........it is risky.

[napscoordinator]

With those states being Conservative areas, they should figure it out. Last thing we need is red states crying because they are poor. They all get too much federal government funding as it is.