TRANSPORTATION 1990: TOLL ROADS? TRANSIT INCENTIVES? ELECTRIFIED FREEWAYS? TRUCKS IN DIAMOND LANES?

Confronted by inflation, dwindling revenue sources and many deteriorating roadways, planners must look at alternative funding--perhaps including toll booths at on-ramps. And they warn that Californians must get used to a new "mix" of transit techniques, because cars and highways cannot meet all the needs of the next two decades. Before the year 2000, these trends will become more apparent, according to the experts: Fewer new highways will be built. Road funds generally will be used to improve existing interchanges, bridges and streets. Emphasis on mass transit will increase, but it will only supplement, not replace, the private car. "We're going to rely mainly on the facilities we have--the highway and freeway system," says Dean Meyer, chairman of the state Transportation Commission. "There are going to be large increases in things like ride-sharing, but no one mode of transportation is going to be the panacea." Because of rising gasoline prices, lighter, more fuel-efficient cars will be developed. The numbers of cars per household will decrease, but the number of households will increase, producing a net gain in motor vehicles. A larger share of highway financing may be paid for by developers, local governments or special assessment districts--some financing mechanism other than the gasoline tax. The fiscal realities of the '80s and '90s will be rising roadbuilding costs and inflation, combined with shrinking state gas-tax revenues. That combination may even force a halt to most new state-financed freeways and interchanges. Experiments will continue with alternative fuels such as gasohol and with recycling asphalt pavement and electrifying some of California's roadways. New strategies to ease congestion also will be tried. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  California Center for Research and Education in Government

  1617 10th Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814
• Authors:
  • Gibson, S
• Publication Date: 1980-11

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 417-420
• Serial:
  • CALIFORNIA JOURNAL

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Financing; Forecasting; Gasohol; Highway transportation; Public transit; Recycling; Ridesharing; Synthetic fuels; Toll roads; Trend (Statistics)
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00330621
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM