Reason Writers Around Town: Robert Poole on the Bailout of America's Cities

December 12, 2008

On Monday, the U.S. Conference of Mayors went to Capitol Hill to ask for a bailout. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, the Reason Foundation's Robert Poole explains why any infrastructure stimulus money they receive will lead to thousands of tennis centers to nowhere.

Read all about it here.

Comments

Derrick|12.13.08 @ 2:39AM|#

This was a good column. I'm surprised it has not yet been commented on.

That's all I really have to say at this time.

|12.13.08 @ 9:55AM|#

over 80% of all goods (by value) in this country are shipped by truck. Time is money. A national network of truck-only toll lanes would enable truckers to carry more goods, faster.

We have those; they're called "railroads".

|12.13.08 @ 11:42AM|#

A national network of truck-only toll lanes would enable truckers to carry more goods, faster.

Outside of metro-area bottlenecks, trucks run at least the speed limit for at least as many hours as the regulators let them run. I don't see how special lanes can improve on this situation.

Now, if you want to expand the highway infrastructure around metro areas and ib teh Bos-Wash corridor, you certainly have my blessing (although the enviros will go positively orbital). But a nation-wide truck-only interstate system will be largely wasted.

|12.14.08 @ 10:46AM|#

How about switching those car pool lanes to truck lanes instead. This wouldn't cost a thing and would likely help significantly with congestion.

Lee Cruz|12.14.08 @ 12:49PM|#

Government Stimulus Package is an oxymoron. As opposed to Robert Poole who is just a run of the mill moron.

|12.14.08 @ 1:06PM|#

I stepped over two WPA badges on my walk to mass this morning.

Still there, in the same concrete, 70 years later.

|12.15.08 @ 10:01AM|#

Flying trucks!

Izzy|12.15.08 @ 5:53PM|#

you make some excellent points. could you please support them with evidence, or at least expand just a little?