When it comes to a dispassionate accounting of reality, engineers are hard to beat. That’s why this article posted on MissouriWatchdog.org caught my attention today.
It reports on a study by University of Missouri civil engineering professor Carlos Sun, finding that tolls more equitably distribute the costs to build and repair roads, since only people who use them pay the fees.
He also suggested that toll roads will actually attract drivers who want a smoother ride. “Well-maintained toll roads could capture revenue for Missouri’s economy from out-of-state truckers and travelers, even if they don’t buy gas or other products in the state,” the Watchdog quoted him as saying.
While tolls have become a hot-button issue in Missouri for politicians, the article cites another engineer, who boils the problem down to its essence:
Matt Seiler, assistant engineer in the southeast district, said his area needs nearly $1 billion for projects in the next decade, and is allocated about $600 million during that time.
“Current funding will only allow the condition of the current transportation system to get worse,” he said.
We all need to apply this kind of clear-sightedness to the issue of our nation’s transportation infrastructure.
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