Larry, I think you are overblowing the 50 and 100 ...

2006-03-27T04:35:00.000-05:00

Larry, I think you are overblowing the 50 and 100 mile commuters. Sure, there are some nut cases, I've been one on occassion, but I got it straightened out ASAP.

The average Virginian only drives 27 minutes to work, as compared to 25 minutes nationally.

These housing costs plus travel cost studies have been done many times, and they ususally find that people are, in fact behaving rationally, given the costs at hand.

Part of KSI strategy may be that it is all that is open to them.

You also have to figure that low cost alternatives to the auto are also low in convenience, flexibility, and carrying capacity. You would have to provide a lot of alternatives to make up for the loss of opportunity provided by the car.

The conventional argument is that people will need...

2006-03-23T04:43:00.000-05:00

The conventional argument is that people will need a car anyhow whether they commute long-distance or live locally so that unless one gives us the car completely (like some folks in NYC) do - that some costs are fixed anyhow.

But the article puts actual dollar amounts on the transportation costs which confirm that many folks spend a considerable percentage of their total income on transportation.

But I wonder if the analysis addressed two more important cost considerations.

1. - First is that if one commutes 50-100 miles a day or more that they can literally reach 100K in 3-4 years.

Locally, in Fredericksburg, it is not unusual at all to see 2003 used cars for sale with 100K on their odometers.

2. - Second, is the issue of external costs for long-distance commuting - highway infrastructure capacity.

Note this article:

"The public comment period for the intercounty connector ends today,

The connector is planned as an 18-mile, six-lane highway that would cost about $2.4 billion and could rise to $3 billion with financing costs"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/22/AR2006032202130.html

Now take a closer look. That number works out to about $150 million per mile (rural interstate costs are on the order of $10 million a mile)

This is ONE 18-mile road segment of dozens that are on NoVa (and Tidewater) wish lists.

The Virginia General Assembly is fighting over whether to generate 500 million or 1 Billion a year in new money.

A Billion for the entire state and one 18-mile segment in the metro DC area will cost between 2-3 Billion.

Is anyone paying attention to the numbers and their financial implications?

And the relevant point with respect to the Brookings Article, is that there ARE very real financial consequences even beyond one's own personal finances when making a decision to drive further to seek more affordable housing.

Essentially folks are utilizing existing highway capacity to subsidize lower housing costs - with the premise that the highway capacity is "free" AND will, of course, be expanded when the capacity is used up.

Folks actually think this. They are often quoted as saying "I pay my taxes and I expect more roads".

TOLLs could dramatically change the equation and people's perceptions about who should pay for new infrastructure.

That's in essence the ongong argument in the Va Ga. "Who will pay" - taxpayers, auto owners, or commuters or.. pick your poison.

Comments on The Road to Ruin: The Tradeoff in Housing and Transportation Costs

Larry, I think you are overblowing the 50 and 100 ...

The conventional argument is that people will need...