Highway Demand Assessment

They say "money talks". Well, I think taxes could be utilized for a highly effective form of communication.

On tax forms, each person is queried on any two zip codes they would like to see improved traffic flow between. The responses are tabulated year after year, entered into a computer, and the information is used to decided where to put in new roads or expand existing ones.

The software would crunch the numbers and display a map, with the roads desires weighted. A road connection from LA to New York would have less weight than a road between New York and Boston, because the dollars would be spread over a smaller distance.

It would remember year-over-year data, recommend the most prioritized new roads to build, and see if the new roads, once open, alter the demand.

With any luck, straighter, thicker roads can be built connecting the cities previous connected by twistier, less efficient roads. Don't get me wrong, scenic routes are great, but when you're zoomin along a highway at 70, you're not doing it for the scenery. And less stop&start/turns people need to make as they are getting where they are going means less pollution.

Finally, on a year like this, people would be inspired to select routes that improve evacuation from hurricane-afflicted areas.

I might choose to select a route from Galveston to Killeen for expansion this year, despite never having to drive there, myself. Why? Because there's lotsa military stuff at Killeen, and it's plenty inland to be safe. It'd speed evac and relief.

Alternatively, I'd pick a route suggesting by some pundit or politician that accomplishes the same task. At any rate, people's priorities would be able to be acertained and answered.