Driving in Circles

The Economist noted recently that increased American vehicle fuel efficiency and less driving is leaving highways without fuel-tax-generated funding, thereby preventing roadways from being improved.

And things do need untroubling. As the article states, “The American Society of Civil Engineers estimated in 2009 that 36% of America’s major urban highways are congested, costing $78.2 billion each year in wasted time and fuel costs.”

But oh, what good news! The silver lining to road unimprovement is that the fuel purchased for wasting in urban highway congestion will fund infrastructure betterment that will, in the long run….oh, shucks, never mind.