Conventional transport evaluations overlook many of the key factors that make the case for federal funding of transit, biking, and walking enhancements.
Consumer savings, parking congestion, public health, economic development impacts, indirect environmental impacts, and strategic land use are just some of the factors often overlooked from the way the feds assess transportation funding.
That’s why it is a little unnerving, according to researcher Todd Litman, to see that President-elect Tump’s choice for transportation secretary is Elaine Chao. At a time when measurement and funding decisions should be improving because of better data collection, Chao’s connection as a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, whose Transportation Policy Recommendations are to eliminate federal funding for anything but highway projects, is an example of the opposite of progress for transportation in the U.S.