Ignorance and Transportation Funding

As much as we'd like the bicycle to be the solution to all the world's problems, there is no single panacea that cures all transportation ills. Bikes play a crucial role in a larger system consisting of a spectrum of intermodal components ranging from pedestrians to jumbo jets.

Unfortunately America is becoming increasingly ignorant of how this system is funded. A recent study revealed that almost two-thirds of Americans believe that gasoline and diesel fuel taxes actually cover the full cost of building and maintaining the nation's highway network. The same proportion of Americans is unaware that the nation's network of freight railroads are almost entirely owned and operated by private businesses. The bliss perpetuated by this ignorance will eventually lead to a loss of prosperity for Americans.

Due to the complexities of highway funding and oil company subsidies, it's difficult to determine how much of the cost of each trip we make by car has been paid for by taxpayers. Despite the sprawl and the pollution, it always seems that the Utah legislature is magically able to come up with funding for highways, yet it's often a political battle to get funding for multiuse trails and mass transit projects. This isn't to say that new highways and improvements to existing ones are a waste of our taxes, but unfortunately their necessity is often a result of short-sighted land use policies and the lack of alternative transportation options.

Our nation's network of air transportation is also heavily subsidized. The price we pay for each ticket pays the airline to operate the flight, but does little to offset other costs like air traffic control, security, and building and maintaining airports. On top of those subsidies, airlines often receive federal funds to offset the costs of operating short regional flights. Salt Lake City to Pocatello, Idaho, is a good example.

In spite of all the public funding for highways and air travel, Amtrak, our nation's intercity and long-distance passenger rail network, continues to have to fight for funding and justify its existence. Amtrak has transported more passengers in 2011 than in any previous year of its 40 year history, yet many view Amtrak as a failure, since it does not turn a profit. To further illustrate the funding disparity, the federal government gave out more subsidies for highway construction and maintenance in 2010 alone than it has provided to Amtrak throughout its entire 40 year history! One can only imagine what Amtrak could accomplish, if it were given the same funding priority as highways.

The irony to transportation funding is that despite not turning a profit, our nation's transportation system does pay for itself indirectly. Our police departments and fire departments do not turn a profit, yet it's obvious that there could be no economic stability without them! The same holds true with transportation. For example, it would be unimaginable for America to have the prosperity that we enjoy without the Interstate Highway System. However, our future prosperity is in jeopardy, if we fail to diversify our transportation infrastructure and focus on transportation alternatives that will allow Americans to live lifestyles that are more sustainable.

Fortunately there is hope. Our mass transit expansion and emphasis on walking and biking are evidence that Salt Lake City is moving transportation in the right direction.

Mike Christensen is an unemployed graduate student and a resident of Salt Lake City. He enjoys biking and skiing (when he can afford lift tickets) and can be seen aimlessly riding around on TRAX and FrontRunner from time to time.

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