The Danger of Federal Money for Local Projects

Scott Beyer provides four reasons why federal money is the wrong policy mechanism for delivering the best possible transportation outcomes in the United States.

1 minute read

August 29, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The Congressional battle over shoring up the Highway Trust Fund has been painted as one between those willing to pay for transportation infrastructure and those willing to let it crumble," writes Beyer. "But really, the debate is over which level of government should control policy."

Beyer goes on to site four specific examples of the ill effects of a top-down approach to transportation planning, including Detroit highways; light rail from Dallas to Cleveland, in Texas; "big roads" in Alaska; and a bypass in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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