D-‘plus’

We’re not the only ones who think the roads are in rough shape.

American Experiment has argued for a long time that Minnesota’s roadways are being neglected to the detriment of the vast majority of Minnesotans because policymakers have preferred to turn roads into bike lanes, build expensive light-rail lines, and add more buses to the roadways.

Stuck in traffic? Probably. It turns out we’re not the only ones who think the roads are in rough shape.

The American Society of Civil Engineers recently awarded Minnesota with a D-Plus rating for our roads. The study called for more funding to enhance our infrastructure, which it predicted would be underfunded by about $18 billion over the next 20 years.

Instead of pursuing light-rail lines that have seen declining ridership throughout the country, transportation planners should accommodate the likely rise in ride-sharing and autonomous vehicles that will offer quick, and cost-effective rides door-to-door, rather than comparatively longer rides to a transportation hub where people will still need to find ways to arrive at their final destination.