Are Roads an Economic Development Tool?

A transportation system on the verge of failure may keep companies from relocating to your area.

1 minute read

February 23, 2004, 2:00 PM PST

By Peter Christiansen


"You cannot grow businesses and have a healthy economy unless you have two things: a trained and educated workforce, and you need infrastructure. We will not have jobs unless we have the infrastructure that supports those jobs." With the freeway and local road system approaching capacity, and no money for expansion due before 2020, Utah County leaders need to rethink their transportation funding. A proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase would raise $11-12 million a year for highway and commuter rail projects. Since the county has had retailers refuse to come because of the lack of infrastructure, money put into transportation could have direct economic development benefits. Utah County has historically had the lowest taxes in the state at $125 per resident.

Thanks to Peter Christensen

Saturday, February 14, 2004 in Deseret News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Black SUV viewed from rear in traffic.

Study: Larger Vehicles Lead to More Congestion

New research links large SUVs to lower traffic throughput.

33 seconds ago - Bloomberg CityLab

White and red train speeding past on green elevated bridge in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Connecticut Assembly to Reconsider TOD Bill

The ‘Work, Live, Ride’ bill would prioritize funding for designated transit-oriented zones to encourage denser development near transit.

1 hour ago - The Connecticut Mirror

Aerial view of large suburban homes on small lake in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

New Jersey Affordable Housing Law Turns 50

The Mount Laurel Doctrine tasks each city and town with creating enough affordable housing to meet their needs, but half a century after its passage, the law still faces opposition in some parts of the state.

2 hours ago - Asbury Park Press