The 2024 election is an opportunity to modernize our transportation system

As America stands on the precipice of potential political change, the future of its transportation system, infrastructure, and planning strategies hangs in the balance. The upcoming election will bring a new administration to the White House, opening an opportunity to reassess and reimagine the nation’s approach to transportation.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed in 2021, has been a pivotal piece of legislation, infusing $110 billion in new spending into the nation’s roads and bridges. This funding has breathed life into countless construction projects that had long been stalled due to a lack of resources. However, as inflation—particularly in the highway construction sector—continues to erode the buying power of these funds, there is a growing consensus that America’s transportation strategy needs to evolve beyond merely building more roads and bridges.

The impact of the IIJA

The IIJA has undoubtedly provided a significant boost to America’s transportation system. Over five years, an additional $110 billion was allocated on top of the $305 billion authorized in the previous five-year period. This substantial financial injection has enabled states to restart or kickstart numerous road-building projects.

Oklahoma, for instance, has utilized IIJA funds to revive a long-stalled highway interchange project. Similarly, Texas is leveraging this funding to extend a portion of Interstate 14 between Austin and Waco, while Minnesota has resumed work on an interchange reconstruction near Duluth. These projects, largely financed by federal money, have been supercharged by the 2021 law, allowing states to make headway on infrastructure improvements that had been postponed for years.

Yet, while the IIJA has been instrumental in advancing these projects, the economic environment has presented challenges. Inflation, particularly within the highway construction sector, has significantly reduced the real impact of the allocated funds. Rising costs of materials, labor, and equipment have made it more difficult for states to stretch their budgets as far as they would like, prompting a reconsideration of how transportation dollars should be spent moving forward.

What’s more, traffic in today’s cities and urban regions has reached and even surpassed pre-pandemic frustration levels, meaning many of our inner-city roads and local commercial arteries are not necessarily benefitting from the highway projects mentioned.

The new administration must therefore think differently, and use transportation investment funds in a more modern way.

A new opportunity to shift focus

With a new administration taking office in January, there is a unique opportunity to rewrite America’s transportation strategy. Historically, the focus has been on building and expanding road networks to accommodate the ever-increasing number of vehicles. However, this car-centric approach is increasingly being challenged by those who argue it is unsustainable and counterproductive in the long run.

The IIJA’s emphasis on road and bridge construction has drawn praise from state officials and transportation planners, who appreciate the much-needed investment in infrastructure. However, it has also sparked criticism from climate activists and public transit advocates. They argue that doubling down on car infrastructure—while beneficial in the short term—will exacerbate the nation’s dependency on automobiles, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions, worsening traffic congestion, and further degradation of urban environments with reduced accessibility to reliable transportation options.

Instead, there is a growing call for a shift in focus toward modernizing transit systems by adopting advanced technologies. Rather than simply building new roads and bridges, the next administration has an opportunity to invest in innovative solutions that will transform how Americans move through their cities and towns, much like some progressive cities like Portland, Seattle, Boston, and San Jose have begun to do so on a local level.

Modernizing transit through technology

One of the most promising avenues for the future of transportation is the integration of cutting-edge technologies into transit systems. By investing in technologies such as edge computing, advanced and connected transit navigation systems, and transit prioritization systems, the U.S. can modernize how traffic flows through urban centers. These technologies can revolutionize personal vehicle use and ride-sharing services, buses, rail systems, emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles, and pedestrian walkways.

Advanced and connected transit systems: Deploying connected transit systems, where vehicles and infrastructure communicate in real time, enhances the efficiency and safety of urban transportation. For example, connected vehicles (commuter and commercial) can receive updates on road conditions, traffic patterns, emergencies, and accidents, allowing drivers to make informed decisions and avoid delays. Similarly, connected infrastructure—such as rail systems, traffic signals, and pedestrian signals—can adapt in real-time to changing conditions, prioritizing public transit vehicles or emergency responders, and improving the overall efficiency of the transportation network.

Transit prioritization systems: Transit prioritization systems, which give preference to buses, trams, and other public transit vehicles at intersections and in traffic, can significantly improve the reliability and speed of public transportation. By reducing the time transit vehicles spend idling in traffic, these systems enhance the operator and user experience and reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The environmental imperative

A shift toward technology-driven transit modernization is not just a matter of improving mobility—it is also an environmental imperative. Transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and reducing these emissions is critical to combating climate change. By focusing on technologies to reduce the time vehicles spend idling in traffic, optimize fuel efficiency, and encourage the use of public transit, the next administration can make significant strides toward a more sustainable transportation system.

In addition to reducing emissions, a technology-focused approach can help mitigate the negative impacts of road construction on urban environments. By prioritizing the modernization of existing infrastructure rather than expanding road networks, cities can preserve green spaces, reduce noise pollution, and create more livable urban environments.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has already taken steps in this direction with the recent announcement of the Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment. This plan will guide the implementation of vehicle-to-everything technologies across the nation and support DOT’s commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to reducing the number of roadway fatalities to zero.

A vision for the future

The potential shift in America’s transportation strategy represents a critical moment in the nation’s history. The IIJA has provided a much-needed boost to infrastructure projects across the country, but the future demands more than just roads and bridges. With a new administration, there is an opportunity to embrace a forward-looking vision that prioritizes technology, sustainability, and modernized transit systems. This approach will address the current challenges facing America’s transportation network and set the stage for a future where mobility is smarter, greener, and more efficient.