America's Transportation Challenges

Politicians and civil engineers alike often refer to America’s immense surface transportation system as “our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.” Major segments of the system are in need of renovation, and its problems are exacerbated by deferred maintenance and unstable, inadequate revenue sources. New approaches to funding, financing, operating, and maintaining the US transportation system are necessary. Policymakers should adhere to three main principles: infrastructure should be paid for by those who use it, ideally through user fees; public-private partnerships should be used to streamline financing, operations, and maintenance; and public policy should complement emerging transportation technologies, especially those related to vehicle autonomy.