The Now and Future Interstate System

This article on the Interstate's past, present and future is written by a former head of the Federal Highway Administration. The author suggests that there is a need for bold new thinking for the future and that the Interstate's needs outstrip revenues available under the fuel tax systems that are currently in place. The unwillingness of elected officials to increase national fuel taxes reflects lack of investor confidence in the current system. The author contends that if capacity is not increased to keep pace with demand, congestion will affect nearly half of the roadway network by 2020.