While leasing public roads to private companies for large cash payments might be attractive for some public officials, it doesn't help solve the larger issues facing the country's transportation system.
Robert Puentes, a fellow at Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, argues that the growing trend of privatizing roadways is moving forward without real consideration for the repercussions to government's bottom line and the public at large.
"Governments lose more than they gain. All that up-front cash looks sweet, but the long-term revenue stream is lost since all the toll receipts flow directly to the private operators."
"Governments also lose the option to borrow against those future revenues."
"Far worse, policy-makers lose the ability to connect transportation to other emerging metropolitan trends. Transportation planning is inherently a metropolitan issue - people and goods travel in and out of cities and between suburbs - and removing a piece of the puzzle hampers the ability to deal strategically with the system in an integrated manner."
FULL STORY: Selling Off Public Roads Isn't A Transit Strategy
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research