🚀 go-pugleaf

"Dave Close" <dave@compata.com> wrote:

(snip)

> In Orange County, there is considerable controversy about the
> non-compete clauses in the toll road contracts. Apparently, Caltrans
> is not permitted to improve certain freeways which could provide
> a better and free alternative to paying tolls. But even without a
> contract clause, Caltrans already tries to avoid competition with
> the HOV lanes by avoiding improvements which could reduce their
> advantage. Rather than building new lanes, we get ramp meters. If we
> had enough freeway lanes, there would be no point in having HOV lanes.
>
> Someone is sure to respond with the tired mantra, "You can't build your
> way out of congestion." Heard it, it fails the logic test.

But the people who push for more freeways have always promised that their
new projects will cut congestion, and now you're saying they don't?

The evidence demonstrates that it doesn't matter how many freeways are
built, there will always be congestion.

That's not an argument not build any freeways. It is an argument against
thinking of freeway building as the only possible solution, to be repeated
forever.

For too many years, investment was seriously skewed in favor of road
building and against any other form of ground transportation. And that's one
of the reasons you have the congestion.

Philip