Roads and bridges still crumbling, now hurting the economy.

[Snowbird]

From the AP:

Solution to crumbling roads, bridges elusive
JOAN LOWY  -  The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is struggling to come up with a solution to the nation's crumbling roads, bridges and transit systems, which are at the point of hindering economic growth.

The problems are numerous. Americans have been driving less due to a slow economy, reducing revenue from the gas tax that pays for transportation improvements. Cars that get better gas mileage are likely to offset any uptick in driving as the economy recovers.

~snip~

This was a short article, there's not a lot more to it, but the news story will continue, I'm sure.

How to solve the problem?

[Kootenanny]

From the AP:
This was a short article, there's not a lot more to it, but the news story will continue, I'm sure.

How to solve the problem?

Increase the tax on gasoline (like pretty much every other country in the world does...why do you think gas is more expensive in Canada, never mind Europe?).

[darkstarmoto]

**rant on**
How about get rid of most of the useless bureaucracy government added to "push paper" in the Dept of Interior and start paying the guys that actually work and start updating our infrastructure. All of the getting someone a cushy job crap they did from back in the 50's to date ended in tons of people who collect a check (our money) and all they do is answer phones (maybe) and stare at walls. The reason there's not enough money is because we spend it all on useless people, and while we are at it...let's use more privatized labor so we don't have to pay 10 union guys to stand around while 1 guy does the work (because union regulations say that's how they have to do it).
**rant off**

Sorry but the subject of raising taxes should be the last way we try to get things done, instead of piling the burden on us working class people...why don't we thin out the useless people burning our money? I'm not against unions, but they have embedded so much of the same crap in their own ranks they'll probably never get rid of it themselves.

[stew71]

PO in 5....4....3....

 

[ConPilot1]

Come to PA if you want to see some really good crumbling roads and bridges.  

Bad enough to have me looking towards a DS for the next ride.

[Fourstring]

Sorry but the subject of raising taxes should be the last way we try to get things done, instead of piling the burden on us working class people...why don't we thin out the useless people burning our money? I'm not against unions, but they have embedded so much of the same crap in their own ranks they'll probably never get rid of it themselves.

Uh, that's kinda happening.

Government employment changed little in January. Over the past 12
months, the sector has lost 276,000 jobs, with declines in local
government; state government, excluding education; and the U.S. Postal
Service.

[darkstarmoto]

^^ Is true...unfortunately they are starting at the wrong end of the spectrum and getting rid of the people we actually need in most cases.

[JReazor]

How to solve the problem?

How about encouraging the use of lighter weight vehicles that would do less damage to infrastructure over time?

[bomber]

Just to show that things are funny, no matter how stupid, we got a big slug o dough from the feds to work on roads here last year -- the unions and the contractor whined non-stop until the money arrived, several workers standing teary eyed, in front of the news cameras, talking about how long they'd been outa work, and how they really needed the jobs.

The money arrived, the weather broke, the equipment was deployed, the lanes blocked, and the construction guys went out on strike. ;-}

ya gotta love it.

[Fourstring]

^^ Is true...unfortunately they are starting at the wrong end of the spectrum and getting rid of the people we actually need in most cases.

Well, fair point.  Who gets to decide which people we need vs. dead weight?  


We should appoint some bureaucrat to compile a study...

[The Shepherd]

I work for the railway. Trucking does not pay taxes on the land the roads are on, railways do. Trucking also does not pay for the upkeep of the roads, railways do.

Start by raising the tax on diesel and start charging trucking companies user fees. This will make rail more attractive for the heavier loads which will take trailers off of the highways and extend their lifespans.

Of course, in the short term, all the extra taxes and user fees will end up being paid by the customer as the prices of everything would creep up, but you have to start somewhere.

[Snowbird]

I work for the railway. Trucking does not pay taxes on the land the roads are on, railways do. Trucking also does not pay for the upkeep of the roads, railways do.

Start by raising the tax on diesel and start charging trucking companies user fees. This will make rail more attractive for the heavier loads which will take trailers off of the highways and extend their lifespans.

Of course, in the short term, all the extra taxes and user fees will end up being paid by the customer as the prices of everything would creep up, but you have to start somewhere.

Regarding the bolded: RRs own their property as you point out; that is historic fact. RRs came first, got their right-of-ways, then built. They therefore have to pay taxes (often reduced) and their own upkeep. That is how it should be.

But RRs have some built-in cost advantages due to those facts. Because RRs came first, they have primary right-of-way. What that means is that in every location where a highway and RR crosses it is the highway agency that pays for the needed improvement, whether that is simply a crossing or a bridge or an underpass. The costs of that are not cheap.

[stew71]

I work for the railway. Trucking does not pay taxes on the land the roads are on, railways do. Trucking also does not pay for the upkeep of the roads, railways do.

Start by raising the tax on diesel and start charging trucking companies user fees. This will make rail more attractive for the heavier loads which will take trailers off of the highways and extend their lifespans.

Of course, in the short term, all the extra taxes and user fees will end up being paid by the customer as the prices of everything would creep up, but you have to start somewhere.

That knock on the door are the local Teamsters. They're asking you to come outside and speak to Mr. Hoffa.  

[Snowbird]

**rant on**
How about get rid of most of the useless bureaucracy government added to "push paper" in the Dept of Interior and start paying the guys that actually work and start updating our infrastructure. All of the getting someone a cushy job crap they did from back in the 50's to date ended in tons of people who collect a check (our money) and all they do is answer phones (maybe) and stare at walls. The reason there's not enough money is because we spend it all on useless people, and while we are at it...let's use more privatized labor so we don't have to pay 10 union guys to stand around while 1 guy does the work (because union regulations say that's how they have to do it).
**rant off**

Sorry but the subject of raising taxes should be the last way we try to get things done, instead of piling the burden on us working class people...why don't we thin out the useless people burning our money? I'm not against unions, but they have embedded so much of the same crap in their own ranks they'll probably never get rid of it themselves.

You sure about your rant?

I thought Transportation Departments built most infrastructure, not the Department of Interior.

All of the getting someone a cushy job crap they did from back in the 50's to date ended in tons of people who collect a check (our money) and all they do is answer phones (maybe) and stare at walls.

Have you actually seen legions of wall-starers?

.let's use more privatized labor so we don't have to pay 10 union guys to stand around while 1 guy does the work (because union regulations say that's how they have to do it).

So, according to you, private contractors are never unionized? That's not my experience. Is the number of people standing around a sign of union involvement? Not in my experience. When people are standing around, there's either a decision being made or a wait for materials or equipment.

But what do I know?  

[darkstarmoto]

Well now I guess I stand corrected. Yes the DOT...not DOI.

Let's just say you have your opinion and I have mine.

[Kootenanny]

I work for the railway. Trucking does not pay taxes on the land the roads are on, railways do. Trucking also does not pay for the upkeep of the roads, railways do.

Start by raising the tax on diesel and start charging trucking companies user fees. This will make rail more attractive for the heavier loads which will take trailers off of the highways and extend their lifespans.

Of course, in the short term, all the extra taxes and user fees will end up being paid by the customer as the prices of everything would creep up, but you have to start somewhere.

This is all true (here in Canada as well).  And, JReazor mentioned above that driving lighter vehicles would reduce highway damage--also true.  The thing is, the vast majority of highway wear and tear comes from heavy trucks--in effect, trucking is subsidized by tax dollars, while rail is not.  This is why it's cheaper to ship stuff by the less efficient method of highway trucks than by much more efficient rail.

[bubba zanetti]

That knock on the door are the local Teamsters. They're asking you to come outside and speak sleep to with Mr. Hoffa.  

 

[bomber]

Rail isn't subsidized?

Forgeive me for interrupting, but (in the USA, at any rate) wasn't the land the tracks are on, in many instances, deeded to the railroads cost free, or at a greatly reduced rate in the first place?

[FJR1300]

Let's just say you have your opinion and I have mine.

Now that's funny!

He asks your opinion and then argues with you about how wrong you are. The only opinion that counts is his opinion... just ask him.

[zer0netgain]

Increase the tax on gasoline (like pretty much every other country in the world does...why do you think gas is more expensive in Canada, never mind Europe?).

I'd consider that only AFTER we stop misappropriating the existing tax revenues collected for this very purpose for OTHER government pet projects.