Think Regional/Act Local

I recently read a report from the Reason Foundation – their 19th Annual Highway report. This is the first national report I’ve seen that says the sky is not falling in terms of the condition of our transportation systems – in fact, it says conditions are getting better! I was astonished to read that the report indicated that the condition of our country’s state-owned road system was the best it’s been in 19 years! The report noted that the recession has resulted in people driving less, which has, in turn, resulted in slowing pavement deterioration. This defies all logic! I have seen no other national publication that says that pavement and bridge conditions are getting better – especially while we’re investing fewer and fewer dollars in fixing them up!

A commonly held misconception is that not spending money on a needed repair actually saves money. Those of us who own homes know this to be false. Try not fixing a bad roof and saying that because it didn’t rain as much last year, things are better. Try not fixing a leak in the faucet and soon it will lead to not just a new faucet, but maybe a new floor as well. To say that pavements are getting better because people are driving less is irresponsible. I might be able to get away with just a surface treatment today – but as a result of no activity, find that I now need to replace the surface and base – a much more expensive project.

The report goes on to identify California, Minnesota, Michigan, and Connecticut as the states having the most congestion – not New York, not New Jersey, not Texas or Florida! It says that over 65 percent of the urban interstates are congested in these states. I don’t know where these people are getting their information, but I can tell you that 65 percent of Michigan’s urban interstates are not congested – especially not at this time! At the same time, California and Hawaii are cited as having the worst pavements.

Let’s not sugar coat this anymore – okay?

• Our transportation systems are deteriorating – both highway and transit.
• Traditional funding streams are providing fewer dollars.
• We have not figured out how to increase needed transportation funding.
• Not investing enough dollars is and will continue to result in more bad roads, bridges, and transit systems.
• It’s our choice to either do something about it or not – either way, there are consequences that certain groups of people will have problems with.
• Road conditions are not getting better and doing nothing does not make things better.
  

I recently read a story in the Livonia Observer that really bothered me. It was about a construction worker that programmed the words “Happy 16th Birthday” to his daughter on a changeable message roadway sign. This action is what has had many transportation professionals concerned since the advent of changeable message signs on the freeway system. These changeable message signs should be thought of as any other roadway sign. They should convey important roadway information to drivers just like static signs do. However, roadway managers often feel pressure to program other than traffic messages on the signs to justify the cost of the sign.

Interchangeable message signs are very powerful tools in the traffic professional’s tool box. They allow many different pieces of information to be conveyed to the driver. The information can then be used by the driver to make decisions about his trip – does he stay on this road, does he move over, or get off the roadway? They are not play toys to be used to support political candidates, ask someone to marry you, or to wish someone a happy birthday. If drivers perceive that the signs are not relevant, they will stop paying attention to them, and then they will be totally useless as a traffic control device. Besides, it is always better to say Happy Birthday in person!

I have to tell you that I am one of those drivers that hate other drivers cutting in on me – especially when entering a construction zone. I am the guy that moves over a lane as soon as I see the sign to move over. In fact, I have been known to straddle the lane to stop another car from passing me.

Well, imagine how surprised I was when I saw a story last week on studies done by the Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Transportation Institute that say late-lane merging actually improves the flow of traffic! This I have to see!

I never imagined that this practice of merging at the last minute was good for traffic, let alone that it was courteous. My time is just as valuable as yours, right? Well, this study says that we will get through the zone quicker if both lanes are used and then we take turns – one car at a time – entering the through lane. I have to tell you that I don’t believe it. I always thought that the quicker everyone gets into one lane, the quicker we get through it. Guess I am going to get a hold of this study to see it for myself.

In the meantime, when you see a guy straddling the lane not letting you get past – that could be me. Honk and say hi!

Well, the people have spoken and the results are that we have a very different Congress than we have had over the past two years. What does this mean for some of the larger transportation initiatives yet to be implemented?

The biggest transportation initiative is the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU – the federal transportation funding legislation. This legislation sunset in October 2009 and Congress has been extending it incrementally over the past year. The biggest advocate for reauthorization was Representative James Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mr. Oberstar was one of the many Democratic incumbents not re-elected last Tuesday. Months ago, Oberstar outlined a $500 billion transportation bill – significantly higher than current funding levels. However, without a viable source of revenue – no one will support an increase in the gas tax – the proposal has gone nowhere and is not likely to go anywhere in a Republican-led House.

So what is going to happen? Well, Republican Congressman John Mica of Florida is likely to take over as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is likely to propose a transportation policy that differs in important ways from the draft produced by Oberstar.

Remember, the Highway Trust Fund revenues continue to decline, leaving lawmakers to face the challenge of raising the motor fuels tax or finding alternative sources of money. Mica has indicated he is not in favor of a gas tax increase and has suggested replacing the per-gallon tax with a percentage sales tax on gasoline. He also advocates more public-private transportation partnerships, large-scale bond issues, and speedier approval of infrastructure projects. Does he have enough support? Can additional revenues be raised or will the next two years look like the past two years – costs increasing and revenues declining?

Let’s hope that we can all get on the same page and find a way to increase revenues so that badly needed transportation improvements can be funded and people put to work on a long-term basis. We need a long-term transportation bill so transportation agencies/cities can plan for the systematic improvement of the system and contractors can hire people and buy equipment. This Congress has precious little time before the next election comes along. Tic Toc.