The future of America's transportation policy and network is vital in America's ability to remain competitive internationally. According to Victor Mendez, President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), "Our generation inherited the world's best transportation system made possible by the commitment of the past two generations to invest in the country's future. We have spent that inheritance" (Transportation, 2008, p. 1). From a lack of capacity to meet demand (highways, railways, mass transit, etc.) to increasing demand for highway use and low levels of mass transit ridership, America faces a number of challenges to remain competitive with countries like China or India. This analysis will discuss some of the pressures on America's transportation network and what challenges must be addressed to assure its vitality and competitiveness in future.
According to Pete Rahn, the Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, "The 21st Century is an increasingly competitive world where countries like China and India have set their sights on overtaking America as the preeminent economic power. Our way of life and prosperity are at stake. American must respond" (Transportation, 2008, p. 1). One of the biggest responses must relate to American transportation policy. According to experts, America's transportation network suffers from a "stranglehold of congestion," poor utilization of highways, lack of capacity to move increasing shipments of freight, and lack of connectivity where interstate systems are concerned (Transportation, 2008, p. 1). American transportation policy has not kept pace with the increases in population or in freight shipments. According to Horsley (2008), the U.S. has more than 130 million residents than when the highway system first broke ground, a figure that could double in the next 50 years.
China, India, and Europe are spending...