Like most things in life, for transportation we keep handling it the same old way, assuming that what we have done in the past is the best way to handle it in the future. But what if we think outside the box for a bit, maybe there is some improvement to be made.
First lets look at the basic approach to transportation. The goal is that all roads are free of charge and we are all better off rom having unfettered access. And where use is low enough, this is the most effective approach.
But for a lot of our main roads & highways during rush hour, we have surpassed maximum use. And increasing the roads won't work as the whole concept of individual cars on a roadway has pretty much hit the maxuimum we can run. The technology can't be built to keep expanding the system - we've hit it's natural limit.
Now lets look at two tools we have at hand that did not exist 5 years ago, drive-by sensors and smart phones. With sensors we can charge cars as they drive through the toll booths on the express lanes and tollways. Just as the state requires all cars to have a license plate, it can require one of these transponders.
We also are at the point where virtually every driver has a smartphone. Not all, but an incredibly high percentage do.
So...
What if we charge for travelling on the major roads and highways, based on traffic at the time. If traffic is sparse, it's free. As it get sbusier, it becomes more expensive. Through direct financial incentives we cause people to spread out when they drive. And these sensors are not limited to the freeway, they can be on major roads too.
Equally important, the state then needs to provide estimates of what the cost will be at various times. Once the system is in place for a couple of months it will be possible to give a very accurate estimate of both charges and the time required to go from location A to location B.
And this info needs to be available through smart phones. Yes the web also but what is key is someone can txt the system with a start and end location and their preferred arrival time, and they will get back a series of departure, arival, and cost estimates.
And this may let us move TABOR out of transportation funding. This can be set up as a state enterprise, the primary funding for transportation comes from these use fees. This would allow gas taxes to then be added to the general fund for other needs.
What's key about making this acceptable is that everyone would spend less time driving. Those continuing to drive during rush hour would see less traffic. And those that change when they drive would also see less traffic during their new commute time.
Equally important, companies would change how they operate. Under employee pressure, shift start/end times would get spread out. And trucking companies would get their trucks through the major arteries earlier or later than rush hour.
The present approach has hit its limit and baring a radical change in approach, we are going to see traffic get worse & worse.
