We Need to Make Alternatives Attractive
By Patrick J. Natale, P.E.
P.E., Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers
The price of gas is irrelevant. Fluctuating gasoline prices are not the problem, but they do serve to intensify the challenges we face after decades of under-investing in surface transportation. If the price of gas goes up, drivers start using other modes that cannot handle the volume. If it goes down, we still have a massive congestion problem and current revenues from gas taxes are not sufficient.
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The cynical person might interpret that trend as a clear sign that Americans prefer driving over other modes of transportation. That may well be, but it could also be an indication that we have not done a good enough job making the alternatives attractive.
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