Transportation Funding

commentary

Navigating Speed Bumps to a Possible Federal Vehicle Miles Traveled Fee
It's been clear for years that the gas tax has been losing its ability to pay for America's existing roads and bridges, let alone improvements and new construction. A vehicle miles traveled fee could provide a potential option for a 21st-century transportation funding system.
Mar 26, 2021

commentary

COVID-19: The Questions Ahead for Future Travel and Transport
COVID-19 could have lasting effects on future travel patterns. Future scenarios, a method for visualizing different possible futures, can help inform decisions in deeply uncertain situations and can be used to think about policies that are important for people's quality of life regardless of how the future unfolds.
Apr 15, 2020
commentary

The Long Game on Infrastructure
The Trump administration recently announced its Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America. With its lack of new federal funding, the plan may not be the best path to fixing America's most serious regional, national, and long-term problems.
Feb 20, 2018
commentary

Regulating Infrastructures in the Tropics
Regulation helps address the demands of investors who are seeking assurances that their investments are safe, while also reassuring democratically elected governments. Regulatory reform could help Brazil attract more private investment in its infrastructure.
May 26, 2017
commentary

The Road Ahead: Rebuilding the Country's Infrastructure in the Trump Administration Era
Policymakers generally agree on the need to rebuild America's infrastructure. But the country is far behind in this area. Why? Transportation projects take time and money. And it's hard to predict how a project will affect its surroundings.
Nov 14, 2016
commentary

Why Selling Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Is a Bad Idea
Some lawmakers are proposing a sell-off of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to finance highway and bridge work. This is a shortsighted strategy.
Sep 15, 2015
blog

The 2015 Summer Reading List for Congress
With Capitol Hill slowing for August recess, this list of must-read research and commentaries will help ensure that policymakers are ready to dive right back in this fall.
Aug 5, 2015
commentary

Pay as You Go
Using vehicle miles traveled as a means of distributing the cost of maintaining America's roads and bridges may not be the only answer, but it represents the kind of innovative thinking that is necessary at a time when this sector of the American transportation infrastructure is desperately in need of a fix.
Jul 22, 2015
commentary

How to Improve Oregon's Mileage-Fee Experiment
Oregon is rolling out the nation's first large-scale pilot to examine switching to a mileage fee instead of the gas tax. The trial is a welcome next step toward understanding how mileage fees can be deployed.
Jul 7, 2015
blog

A Summer Reading List for Congress
No matter how policymakers spend their break—meeting with home-state constituents, traveling abroad with congressional delegations, or spending time with family—this summer reading list contains policy ideas that can help them hit the ground running when they return.
Jul 31, 2014
commentary

Make HOT Lanes Permanent
The first HOT lanes in L.A. have improved traffic flow and travel time reliability, are fair to users of the facilities, have improved transit service and have generated revenue needed to fund those improvements from voluntary toll payments.
Apr 23, 2014
commentary

As U.S. Energy Booms, Don't Forget About Roadway Infrastructure
Natural gas production is growing and many states and communities are reaping the economic benefits. One of the costs, however, will be damage to roads. One hydraulic fracturing operation requires about 600 to 1,100 one-way, heavy truck trips to bring equipment, materials, and sometimes water to and from a well site.
Mar 11, 2014
blog

What Mobility Might Look Like in the U.S. in 2030
Mobility — the ability to travel from one location to another — may look very different in the United States in the year 2030. Three key drivers differentiate possible scenarios: the price of oil, the development of environmental regulations, and the amount of highway revenues and expenditures.
Oct 28, 2013
commentary

Paying for Infrastructure, a Taxing Issue
If the user pays idea is worth saving, the United States needs a different calculation, writes Liisa Ecola. Some states are looking at mileage fees. With mileage fees, you pay based on the number of miles you drive, rather than the number of gallons of gas used.
May 16, 2013
commentary

Consider Taxing Miles Traveled
Mileage-fee rates could be structured to reduce congestion, harmful emissions and excessive road wear, and the enabling technology could support a range of value-added services offering greater convenience and safety for motorists, writes Keith Crane.
Apr 19, 2013
commentary

Does U.S. Gas Tax Still Make Sense?
It's time to consider changing the country's transportation funding scheme from one based on gallons purchased to one based on vehicle miles actually traveled, writes Liisa Ecola.
Mar 8, 2013
commentary

In Support of the Congestion Charge
In Support of the Congestion Charge, in Washingtonpost.com
Aug 7, 2007
commentary

Vary MTA Fares
Vary MTA Fares
May 7, 2007
commentary

Paying for Our Transportation Needs
Published commentary by RAND staff: Paying for Our Transportation Needs, in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Oct 25, 2006

Quoted

Research conducted in school districts around the country demonstrates significant public health benefits of later school start times. When schools start later, teens get more sleep. Not surprisingly, a well-rested teen is happier, more alert, and able to learn. Studies have even shown that with later school start times, attendance improves and graduation rates go up.

Wendy M. Troxel

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

It is fair to say security relations between and among the four Quad participants are at an historic high point. This is a good sign because it suggests that the Quad is no longer a temporary, fair-weather construct like the first time around.

Derek Grossman

Senior Defense Analyst

Source: Foreign Policy

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Climate Change Affects Health and Will Increase Drug Demand

The Once Wobbly Quad Is Here to Stay

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The Math Equity Equation

The Policy Currents Podcast

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Improving Access to Early Childhood Education

Transportation Funding

Navigating Speed Bumps to a Possible Federal Vehicle Miles Traveled Fee

COVID-19: The Questions Ahead for Future Travel and Transport

The Long Game on Infrastructure

Regulating Infrastructures in the Tropics

The Road Ahead: Rebuilding the Country's Infrastructure in the Trump Administration Era

Why Selling Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Is a Bad Idea

The 2015 Summer Reading List for Congress

Pay as You Go

How to Improve Oregon's Mileage-Fee Experiment

A Summer Reading List for Congress

Make HOT Lanes Permanent

As U.S. Energy Booms, Don't Forget About Roadway Infrastructure

What Mobility Might Look Like in the U.S. in 2030

Paying for Infrastructure, a Taxing Issue

Consider Taxing Miles Traveled

Does U.S. Gas Tax Still Make Sense?

In Support of the Congestion Charge

Vary MTA Fares

Paying for Our Transportation Needs

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