A World Class Transportation System: Transportation Finance for a New Economy

by Charles L. Marohn Jr.

America is having a one-dimensional discussion on transportation. The central question – how do we get more money to continue with our current approach – fails to adequately explain why our current approach has left us lacking funds in the first place. Political leaders say they want a “world class transportation system” but are not able to explain, in any credible way, how to bring that vision about.

A World Class Transportation System explains why we are stuck, the consensus principles that can unite Americans and the practical – albeit paradigm-shifting – approach that can be used to build the highways, transit systems and local transportation investments we need to be economically competitive.

Genres: Economics, Urban Planning, Cities

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2014

Reviews

[Evan Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provocative critique and counter offer

Chuck Marohn is quickly becoming a thinker that I greatly admire. He is writing against a behemoth of a movement and doesn't pull any punches. This book is for the disillusioned by American popular idiocy. It has a straightforward thesis and a refreshing set of ideals.

[Darry · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A World Class Transportation System" is an excellent vignette of an e-book on how a bloated transit infrastructure system that externalises costs and doesn't make users pay the true price has been created. While this book details specifics about Minnesota and the infra of the US, the faults are broadly applicable to any country that has bought into this car culture, lack of pricing, and set of incentives, like NZ to a degree with car dependant sprawl, and roads of national significance. However also less so due to relative size and not having the same sort of stroad problem Charles describes.
The proposed solution structure while being ambitious is very good, even if all I personally want is trains (and cycle infra).
I read this as I wanted a refreshing non-fiction e-book on transportation/urbanism for my kindle.
The book is very economical for lack of a better term. It is concise and to the point, but definitely leaves you wanting more, thus I'll be sure to look into Strong Towns, the book and website.

[Jeff Valluzzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting study on a new potential system of transportation finance for a more intelligent state DOT. The unfortunate part is that this is only theoretical, and unlikely to gain political traction in the near future. We are far too dependent on our current trajectories, foolish and fated for failure though they may be.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Marohn's work (and you should be), then you'll like this simple primer on why our spending on transportation is flawed. Really a must read.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a word wasted, a sound, brave (too brave for this country, unfortunately) argument. But at the very least it should get people to consider changing the current wasteful paradigm.