‘”A tour de force! O’Toole provides the relevant history, the keen diagnosis of our problems, and a prescient sense of the future in addressing our national gridlock. Every planner in America should be required to read it.”- Alan Pisarski, Author, Commuting in America’
Have you been stuck in any bad traffic lately? Pretty good chance the answer is yes.
And, as you sit behind the wheel grinding your teeth and the car’s gears, does it give you any comfort knowing that federal, state and local governments are working to “fix” traffic problems? No? Me neither. Especially since government is making it worse.
This week, the Cato Institute is publishing a book I have been working on for years, Gridlock: Why We’re Stuck in Traffic and What to Do About It. The book pulls together decades of research I’ve been doing on ailing transportation systems throughout the country, and spells out ways to make real improvements. I think it’s a book you’ll find extremely interesting and valuable.
Gridlock shows us that while we’re the most mobile society in history, our transportation system is about to collapse. Traffic congestion is now five times worse than it was 25 years ago. And, the main cause of all this is the government planners who are trying to diminish auto use — reducing the personal mobility we each have — in combination with questionable federal budget incentives that aggressively fund this effort.
The result is that cars are being deliberately forced off the transportation grid by the ultra expensive “solution” of little-used high-speed trains and urban transit lines. As I show in Gridlock, this is not only incredibly expensive; it wastes energy and hurts the environment. It’s a lose-lose proposition.
Gridlock offers a wide range of market-based ideas and policy recommendations for creating an effective transportation system — improvements that will increase our mobility and pay for themselves, whether with cars, buses, planes, or trains.
There’s much more about the book on the Cato website, and as a friend of Cato you’ll receive a 25% discount. Just be sure to enter the code “Gridlock” when you’re completing the purchase. You can also call (800) 767-1241 to buy the book.
ALSO: At noon on Wednesday, January 20, I’ll be speaking about and signing my book here at the Cato Institute. If you are in the Washington, D.C., area I hope you’ll consider attending. You can instantly register for the free event and lunch here or by calling (202) 789-5229. If you are out of the area or can’t attend, the event will be simulcast live on Cato’s website.
*HARDBACK: $24.95