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Are expensive roads really needed? What if we see a gradual decline in roadway expenditures in the USA, transitioning our economy to involve less driving and mo

Are expensive roads really needed? What if we see a gradual decline in roadway expenditures in the USA, transitioning our economy to involve less driving and more work from home, deliveries via drone/efficient vehicle, promote self-sufficiency, not to mention biking, walking, trains, etc...my point is maybe we won't need/use roads as much as we do now. One would hope so, but it seems our VMT is going up over time whilst people are locking in very expensive, long-term car purchases.

markbnj 7y ago
There are roads in our county in New Jersey that have been transitioned from paved back to gravel, presumably based on usage and the anticipated savings from maintaining gravel over asphalt. I'm not a civil engineer and I don't know what all the tradeoffs are, but it seems to me that we're either going to have to admit we can't afford so much paving, or we're going to have to agree to pay higher taxes.
- toast0 7y ago
  The primary downside of gravel is reduced speed, additional downsides are probably some additional vehicle wear, and lower suitability for heavy vehicle. Also, it's louder, and flung gravel can be a hazard, and it's not great for bikes. The upsides are reduced cost of building, maintenance, and equipment, and better water permiability. Reduced speeds can be a benefit depending on the application.
- nemo44x 7y ago
  What’s interesting about this is NJ is the most densely populated state and has a high income level generally speaking. And some of the highest taxes in the country, especially property tax. I suspect NJ loses a lot of tax dollars from commuters that work in NYC or Philadelphia and pay income tax in those states. Regardless the state brings in a lot of revenue. I suspect the pension obligations are the real killer here.
- prawn 7y ago
  Or find a cheaper way to create/maintain roads?
closeparen 7y ago
Road wear is dominated by trucks, and we are definitely still buying stuff.
peter303 7y ago
Quite the opposite. Not only are urban populations increasing, but the so-called economies of ride-sharing and same-day delivery increase the number of vehicles on the road significantly. NYC has done studies.

markbnj 7y ago

There are roads in our county in New Jersey that have been transitioned from paved back to gravel, presumably based on usage and the anticipated savings from maintaining gravel over asphalt. I'm not a civil engineer and I don't know what all the tradeoffs are, but it seems to me that we're either going to have to admit we can't afford so much paving, or we're going to have to agree to pay higher taxes.

toast0 7y ago
The primary downside of gravel is reduced speed, additional downsides are probably some additional vehicle wear, and lower suitability for heavy vehicle. Also, it's louder, and flung gravel can be a hazard, and it's not great for bikes. The upsides are reduced cost of building, maintenance, and equipment, and better water permiability. Reduced speeds can be a benefit depending on the application.
nemo44x 7y ago
What’s interesting about this is NJ is the most densely populated state and has a high income level generally speaking. And some of the highest taxes in the country, especially property tax. I suspect NJ loses a lot of tax dollars from commuters that work in NYC or Philadelphia and pay income tax in those states. Regardless the state brings in a lot of revenue. I suspect the pension obligations are the real killer here.
prawn 7y ago
Or find a cheaper way to create/maintain roads?

closeparen 7y ago

Road wear is dominated by trucks, and we are definitely still buying stuff.

peter303 7y ago

Quite the opposite. Not only are urban populations increasing, but the so-called economies of ride-sharing and same-day delivery increase the number of vehicles on the road significantly. NYC has done studies.