Could the Gov Be Clogging Highways on Purpose for Environmental Reasons?

Having lived on Gum Spring Road for over 20 years we’ve seen daily traffic rise from fewer than 400 cars a day to well over 10,000 each weekday. Over the years we’ve had many conversations about traffic in our immediate area and asked “where have all the tax dollars gone?” many times. Jokingly, I’ve often vented that it’s the “anti-sprawlist’s” way of preventing more development. Of course, I wasn’t serious and actually believed it was just that building fiefdoms and Taj Mahals was more important to government spenders than building something to benefit those who send them the money in the first place.

Earlier today I came across a blog post that provides another plausible explanation for the incredible traffic jams that citizens in most major cities have become bitterly accustomed to. Basically, the traffic jams are viewed by some greenies as a very good thing because people will be motivated or forced to reply more on public transportation or telecommuting.

Could this be possible? Could greenies really be using high school level theory to resist the investment of billions worth of tax revenues into improving our roads? Based on recent news I do believe this is partly to blame for the complete lack of effort to build out our infrastructure at a pace even resembling our population growth. If I’m right, I say fine. Just let us know what you are doing and why and reduce our taxes significantly so we aren’t paying for goods never delivered.

Here are some articles on this very subject:

• Wired: The Upside of Traffic
• Wall Street Journal: How Traffic Jams Help the Environment
• One Green Gnome: How Can Traffic Jams Help the Environment?