ROADS AS A PUBLIC GOOD: ATTITUDES AND APPROACHES IN NORTH AMERICA

The economics of road networks are complicated by joint consumption and externalities. All citizens, regardless of their road usage, receive some benefits. At the same time, benefits to road users are not constant; as the number of drivers and the interaction between drivers rises, the system becomes congested and all users experience reduced benefits. The costs of building and maintaining roads is high. If only the private costs and benefits of roads are considered, the road network is likely to suffer under investment from a social perspective. Long-term investments in road infrastructure must be weighed against the size and distribution of their costs and benefits. The broad influence of roads in society would suggest that they be treated as a public rather than a private good. However, a review of the historical treatment of roads in North America indicates that this has not always been the case. This article aims to define the concept of a public good and provide a historical context for the treatment of roads in North America. Recent literature offers evidence that the public/private road debate at the community, regional, or national level in Canada and the U.S. continues.

• Corporate Authors:

  Canadian Transportation Research Forum

  209-15 Innovation Boulevard
  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • Ojah, M
  • Prentice, B E
• Conference:
  • Transportation Visioning-2002 and Beyond (Vision d'avenir des transports-2002 et au-dela), Canadian Transportation Research Forum, Proceedings of the 37th Annual Conference
  • Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
  • Date: 2002-5-12 to 2002-5-15
• Publication Date: 2002

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 118-133

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Economic analysis; Externalities; Infrastructure; Network analysis (Planning); Public works; Transportation policy; User benefits
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road networks
• Geographic Terms: Canada; United States
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00969593
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 22 2004 12:00AM