U.S. highways are the backbone of the best transportation system in the world, yet more than 11,000 miles of pavement on the U.S. national highway system are in poor condition, nearly 24,000 of its interstate bridges are classified as deficient, and roadway conditions were cited as a factor in about 30% of the 42,815 highway fatalities in 2002. Even if all the funds needed to upgrade the system and bring it up to prime condition were available, the reconstruction effort might bring as many problems as it would solve. The technology and practices that built America's highways in the 20th century are no longer adequate for the challenges and needs of the 21st century. This article looks at the adoption of a better overall business model, geared to accelerate the adoption of new transportation technologies, in order to better deal with the scale of necessary infrastructure repairs while minimizing traffic disruption on U.S. roads.
Abstract