Letter: Transportation opportunity for La.

• Published: Dec 5, 2008 - Page: 6B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The economic confusion of our transportation system is mounting. The “green” trend along with the recent history of skyrocketing gasoline and diesel prices have pushed our society to find a more “livable” lifestyle … more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly cars, traditional neighborhoods with walkable streets, car pooling and mass transit systems that have shown sudden revival, and more.

All for what? Just to see gas prices drop again? Facts:

• Our method of funding transportation system improvements is broken. Less driving and more fuel efficient cars are reducing funds for highway improvements to the point that needed projects are stalling all over the country.
• Europe bit the bullet years ago. State and federal taxes currently make up just 11 percent of the pump price in the United States, according to the Energy Information Administration; in France and the U.K., taxes account for an average of around 70 percent.
  

The opportunity: The environmentalists don’t want a slide back to big cars; the business lobby doesn’t want to see a decline in the condition and capacity of our infrastructure. The time is now for Louisiana to consider an additional tax on gasoline and diesel … enough to fund our needs for transportation and pull in the slack to keep from sliding back to our wayward profligate ways.

And, because memory is short, do it NOW while gas is cheap.

See the Wall Street Journal article on http://www.SJBGroup.com/downloads/CreatingAProblemByDrivingLess.pdf

Wilfred Barry
consulting engineer
Baton Rouge