GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT POLICY AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS

Along with regulation, government involvement in advancement of transportation technology involves direct investment, promotion, subsidy, technological spinoff, taxation and welfare. Two facets of technology are involved: the rate at which new technology is developed and the rate at which it is applied in industries to which it is applicable. The most direct effects upon transport technology may be those which stem from governmental influences upon availability of funding. Two examples are examined: The stagnation of rail development through inadequate capital flow, and the near demise of public urban transportation in consequence of the multiplication of funding for highway purposes and its substantial denial for other transport modes. Both reflect a readiness to enlarge commitments within the sphere of governmental control and to ignore the effects of that policy upon the private sector or upon concerns of presumed local character. There was little foresight in appraising the likely consequences. Regulatory reform is also required, but not complete deregulation.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1588960
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Traffic and Transportation, Inc., in New York City, August 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Traffic and Transportation

  547 West Jackson Boulevard
  Chicago, IL  United States  60606
• Authors:
  • Williams Jr, E W
• Publication Date: 1976-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 86-91
• Serial:
  • Transportation Journal
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society of Transportation and Logistics
  • ISSN: 0041-1612
  • Serial URL: https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/transportation-journal

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Competition; Deregulation; Financial capital; Financing; Government funding; Policy; Public transit; Transportation modes; Transportation policy
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Government policies; National transportation policies
• Subject Areas: Finance; Policy; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00150409
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1981 12:00AM