BIKE: Good analysis of the big picture transportation future

[Roger Baker]

Those like TxDOT and the toll road lobby need to start reading the  
news, see link at bottom. Peak oil coverage in the media is rapidly  
getting better.

The SH 130 toll road bonds are still going to default. No matter how  
much they spotlight urban architect Peter Calthorpe explaining his  
best SH 130 development future vision in the Statesman, as happened  
today. Calthorpe is a true visionary to be applauded. But given all  
the total anarchy in development law and policy that applies to the  
rural areas that SH 130 traverses, his ideas won't have much impact.

The timing is all wrong. The highway lobby is in control under Rick  
Perry, but the bottom is about to fall out from under the financing  
-- as predicted users on this would-be commuter toll highway shift  
away from long range commuting to maybe doubling up inside the city  
if they in-migrate into this area at all.  In any case, the economics  
of highways is rapidly deteriorating, and toll roads are finally  
being understood as no magic cure, much different from even a year or  
so ago.

If government were really rational, inherently efficient passenger   
and freight rail would now receive the primary emphasis for new  
investments in transportation. The same for any car-addictive  
economies anywhere else too, IMO. -- Roger


<http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=509&e=1&u=/ap/oil_gone>