Robert Poole - What's Wrong With America's Highways?

The Curious Task

In this episode, Alex speaks with transportation policy expert Robert Poole about his book Rethinking America’s Highways. Poole makes the case for replacing the current tax-funded, politically managed highway system with a customer-focused, market-based model. He outlines how tolling, public-private partnerships, and long-term concessions can improve infrastructure, reduce congestion, and provide sustainable funding. The discussion examines lessons from international examples, the political and technical barriers to reform, and why a shift in mindset is essential for meeting America’s future mobility needs.

References

Rethinking America’s Highways — Robert Poole
https://a.co/d/1gu8lWE

Robert Poole — Reason Foundation Profile
https://reason.org/author/robert-poole/

Modernizing the Interstate Highway System via Toll Finance — Robert Poole (Reason Foundation)
https://reason.org/policy-study/modernizing-the-interstate-highway/

Funding & Finance — Eno Center for Transportation
https://enotrans.org/topics/funding-finance/

The Big Roads — Earl Swift
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-big-roads

Infrastructure Economics and Policy: International Perspectives — José A. Gómez-Ibáñez & Zhi Liu (eds.)
https://www.booktopia.com.au/infrastructure-economics-and-policy-jose-a-gomez-ibanez/book/9781558444188.html

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