Why the US must shift policies to focus on transportation AND infrastructure together
By: Jason Pavluchuk, Director of Public Policy
The words “transportation” and “infrastructure” are often used interchangeably, especially in a policy context. In fact, one of the Congressional Committees that manages Federal transportation policy is known as the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. However, the two words, and their underlying implications, are vastly different.
Transportation is the way we move. It’s personal because it is how our kids get to school safely. It’s also how we get to work, and how milk gets to the store.
Infrastructure is what we use to move ourselves and our goods. Infrastructure is composed of the roads we drive on, the buses we ride and the trains we take. It’s a critical part of the transportation system.
However, from a policy context, infrastructure is often the only thing we think about. In the most recent Federal transportation bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a majority of the $600 billion earmarked for projects will be used to buy, build or repair infrastructure. Only a small amount of that money will be used to address other elements of transportation, such as how the infrastructure can better operate, more options on how transportation can be provided, or how we can incentivize people to make different choices about how, when, and where to travel. Even in the context of adding transit services, the vast majority of funds are used to buy more rolling stock or add new physical capacity. Rarely do we see funding or actions to make the existing options better or more usable. A recent referendum passed in Nashville promises to revamp transit services in the greater region. However, most of the funds will be used to buy more buses and vehicles to provide service.
Now, let’s be clear, infrastructure is critical to having a safe way to travel, and the referendum in Nashville will greatly expand options for its citizens. However, what makes transportation different in America from the rest of the world is that the rest of the world focuses on all elements of transportation when developing policies and making funding decisions. This is not a new phenomenon. Its roots date back to the World War II era, where our infrastructure, particularly our road system, lagged behind the rest of the world. President Dwight Eisenhower took note of the expansive road system that Germany developed for military purposes and duplicated it in the United States, thus the creation of the Eisenhower Interstate road system. However, over the past seventy years, we haven’t shifted our policy focus. Much of our funding, policy, and decision-making is based solely on infrastructure.
In the next legislative session, Congress will have an opportunity to change that. There are reasons for both sides of the political spectrum to focus on transportation rather than just infrastructure. For conservatives, the cost of building, maintaining, and expanding our infrastructure has become too expensive. The most recent legislation was considered a generational investment.While needed, it did not solve our transportation issues. There is value in making the existing system work better. Evolving traffic signals to become more adaptive and responsive to real-time situations will help move people and freight. Making existing transit more cost-effective and easier to use will increase ridership, save money, and reduce the need to expand roadway capacity. It will also incentivize people to choose transportation options that will reduce traffic congestion. For progressive policy makers, these actions result in less congestion, fewer cars on the road, and increased access. This equates to fewer carbon emissions and more opportunity for citizens. Best of all, users of the infrastructure system will spend less time in transit and more time on what matters most to them.
In the coming weeks, Carma will unveil specific recommendations on how Congress should create Federal transportation policies and direct funding to both infrastructure AND transportation.