Author: Randal O'Toole / Topic: Government

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 06-2012
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Streetcars are the latest urban planning fad, stimulated partly by the Obama administration's preference for funding transportation projects that promote "livability" (meaning living without automobiles) rather than mobility or cost-effective transportation. Toward that end, the administration wants to eliminate cost-effectiveness requirements for federal transportation grants, instead allowing non-cost-effective grants for projects promoting so-called livability. In anticipation of this change, numerous cities are preparing to apply for federal funds to build streetcar lines.
Topic:: Economics, Environment, Government, Political Economy, and Infrastructure
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 05-2012
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Although gasoline taxes have long been the main source of funding for building, maintaining, and operating America's network of highways, roads, and streets, the tax is at best an imperfect user fee. As such, Congress and the states should take action to transition from gas taxes to more efficient vehicle-mile fees.
Topic:: Economics, Government, Communications, and Infrastructure
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 03-2010
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Over the past four decades, American cities have spent close to $100 billion constructing rail transit systems, and many billions more operating those systems. The agencies that spend taxpayer dollars building these lines almost invariably call them successful even when they go an average of 40 percent over budget and, in many cases, carry an insignificant number of riders. The people who rarely or never ride these lines but still have to pay for them should ask, “How do you define success?"
Topic:: Government, Markets, and Infrastructure
Political Geography:: America

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 01-2009
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service collectivelymanagewell over a quarter of the land in theUnited States.Although everyone agrees that the landsandresourcesmanagedbytheseagencies are exceedingly valuable, the lands collectively cost taxpayers around $7 billion per year.
Topic:: Agriculture, Civil Society, Environment, Government, and Privatization

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 09-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: The administration has likened President Obama's high-speed rail plan to President Eisenhower's Interstate Highway System. Yet there are crucial differences between interstate highways and high-speed rail. First, before Congress approved the Interstate Highway System, it had a good idea how much it would cost. In contrast, Congress approved $8 billion for high-speed rail without knowing the total cost, which is likely to be at least $90 billion.
Topic:: Energy Policy, Government, and Infrastructure
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 05-2008
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Federal law requires metropolitan planning organizations in urban areas of more than 50,000 people to write long-range (20- to 30- year) metropolitan transportation plans and to revise or update those plans every 4 to 5 years. A review of plans for more than 75 of the nation's largest metropolitan areas reveals that virtually all of them fail to follow standard planning methods. As a result, taxpayers and travelers have little assurance that the plans make effective use of available resources to reduce congestion, maximize mobility, and provide safe transportation facilities.
Topic:: Civil Society, Development, and Government
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Randal O'Toole
Publication Date:: 10-2008
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Rising gas prices and concerns about greenhouse gases have stimulated calls to build more rail transit lines in urban areas, increase subsidies to Amtrak, and construct a large-scale intercity high-speed rail system. These megaprojects will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, but they won't save energy or significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Topic:: Development, Economics, and Government
Political Geography:: United States

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