While leasing public roads to private companies for large cash payments might be attractive for some public officials, it doesn't help solve the larger issues facing the country's transportation system.
Robert Puentes, a fellow at Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, argues that the growing trend of privatizing roadways is moving forward without real consideration for the repercussions to government's bottom line and the public at large.
"Governments lose more than they gain. All that up-front cash looks sweet, but the long-term revenue stream is lost since all the toll receipts flow directly to the private operators."
"Governments also lose the option to borrow against those future revenues."
"Far worse, policy-makers lose the ability to connect transportation to other emerging metropolitan trends. Transportation planning is inherently a metropolitan issue - people and goods travel in and out of cities and between suburbs - and removing a piece of the puzzle hampers the ability to deal strategically with the system in an integrated manner."
FULL STORY: Selling Off Public Roads Isn't A Transit Strategy

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont