Blaming Millennials for Decaying Road Infrastructure

If you thought inflation and fuel efficiency, along with politicians unwillingness to raise gas taxes were the main causes of America's decaying road and bridges, S&P adds another contributing factor—millennial transportation preferences.

2 minute read

October 22, 2015, 10:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Pothole

Vladimir Mucibabic / Shutterstock

Millennials are not directly responsible for that pothole you may have just driven through - but their "driving and vehicle purchasing habits—or lack thereof—greatly contribute to the decreased collection of the federal gas tax," writes Kathleen Burke for MarketWatch. And the Highway Trust Fund, where those gas taxes are deposited, is what funds much of the road repair on the interstate highway system.

The millennial blame can be found in S&P's Oct. 19 economic research report, "Millennials Are Creating Unsafe Conditions On U.S. Roads--But Not In The Way You Might Think (pdf)," written by Beth Ann Bovino and Geoffrey E Buswick,

Burke analyzes rates of licenses issued, VMT, public transit usage, and millennial preference for green cars. She omits biking and carshare though—both greatly associated with millennial travel preferences.

But it's not just preferences that are responsible for millennials not propping-up the Highway Trust Fund as other generations have done, observes the Financial Times on the new report.

A major one is the economy: Wages among younger workers have been depressed, while unemployment and underemployment remain high. On top of that, the generation which was born from 1982-2000, also tends to start families later in life, perhaps halting moves into the suburbs where driving is more common.

S&P's report contradicts, to some extent, Yonah Freemark's post that we can't expect millennials to save us from our auto-dependent ways. We may still be a nation of drivers, regardless of millennial travel preferences, but their transportation biases are impacting our ability to pay for road upkeep.

Hat tip to Jennifer Scholtes, transportation reporter for POLITICO Pro.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 in Marketwatch

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.