A report presented by the Reason Foundation, Transportation for America and Taxpayers for Common Sense, “The Most for Our Money,” offers seven cost-effective transportation strategies for the U.S. to improve its infrastructure. Those categories include transportation scenario planning; high occupancy toll lanes (HOT Lanes); bus rapid transit (BRT); intelligent transportation systems (ITS); intercity buses; teleworking and local street connectivity.

Scenario planning, which the report states has a history with private companies and the military, is giving the local decision makers and even the community an opportunity to review plans and how they will affect the environment. The community is able to weigh any increased traffic, changes to wetlands or other trends against the promise of new roads. “Scenario planning analyzes potential changes by considering a number of alternate futures and how transportation systems and communities would be impacted,” the report states. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) began encouraging transportation scenario planning with analytical tools, peer workshops and federal resource guides.

“By including all parties, including industry, local residents and regional authorities, scenario planning offers one cohesive vision for their community versus simply allowing the ‘status quo’ to be the default option,” the study concludes on scenario planning. “With tightened funding sources for transportation, scenario planning becomes an even more important tool as communities and regions seek to build, maintain and expand critical infrastructure links.”

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is about using technology to increase capacity on roads. At the same time, it has safety and environmental benefits. This component addresses congestion in the nation’s urbanized areas. It also looks to the finances that fund the U.S. infrastructure. The ITS section states concerns over fuel conservation and high-mileage cars. “We face multiple challenges. Money is tight, as the gasoline tax we rely on to build and maintain our transportation network loses its earning power due to improved fuel efficiency and rising costs,” the report says. “Meanwhile, the nation’s transportation needs are increasing, as many of our roads, bridges and railways fall deeper into a state of disrepair.”

In an underfunded environment, ITS makes available funds more efficient. “As Congress grapples with increasing congestion and limited federal financing, governments are now utilizing ITS to extract more capacity from their existing infrastructure.” Technologies used aim to reduce congestion, improve safety, increase traffic throughput and encourage economic development without the need for costly roadway expansion.

The report is available here via Echo Press.