Location Transport

What kind of transportation could we have if government didnt have a monopoly on roads?

If roads were private and they charged to much for tolls, what new markets would emerge for transportation? Could we have already had high speed rail? What about tubes like on Futurerama? The point is the possibilities are endless when left up to the free market that enables free will, choice, and creativity to work.

Public Comments

1. Horses, cows, pigs......Oh, and we would not have roads.
2. False. We would still be riding horses without government roads. ANd working people would be paying $1000 per month for government subsidized toll roads.
3. Most roads would be highly tolled. A few of the under-maintained highways might be ad supported.
4. Umm is this a question. If so, We could have Pew pew lazorz that take us everywhere and then go boom and we become giant.
5. They don't. Some states have sold the turnpikes that were paid for with federal taxes. That's not the government that you pay on the MA and NY turnpikes. Helicopters for all
6. It would have crippled our growth... but perhaps that might not have been a bad thing. There would have been less urban spread, jobs would have had to remain local, less dependence on foreign oil (less money to the middle east) and reduced outsourcing. The government built the best road system in the world. And the places were the government hasn't built roads... there are no roads.
7. Freeways and trains are only necessary when people are forced to for the same large industries and live in the same large megacities. If everything was smaller, closer, and local--we wouldn't really have to worry about mass transit as much and small merchants would thrive and the quality of life would rise because going to your local farmer, market, butcher, etc. for fresh food without additives is a lot healthier. People would be able to afford a mass transit system that costs more if it was needed mainly for traveling and vacationing--not required for everyday life.
8. New markets would not emerge because significant transport infrastructure requires government subsidy. Vested interests like oil companies and car/plane manufacturers are half the reason we don't have high speed rail yet. Having everyone use gas guzzling cars for a century has generated vast, vast profits for a small number of companies. If all the roads were tolled, people would still use them because we have to to get around. The monopoly would then shift to private companies whose sole priority is profit, and they would continue to gouge consumers for every penny they could. One possible outcome would be an increase in telecommuting, meaning fewer people on the roads, but then the road owners would jack up prices to maximise profits and keep shareholders happy. Tubes, moving sidewalks and monorails are all very well, but they would only be developed when all the worth (profit) had been squeezed from current infrastructure. The point is that with highway maintenance currently being subsidised by the taxpayer, we all pay far, far less than we would do if they were tolled.
9. I don't think there's a need just yet for "tubes" regardless of who manages the roadway system. Here in TX, there are a few Toll Road Management Authorities (RMAs) who maintain and manage private toll roads. These roads are no better than the ones managed by TxDOT or any other roadway authority (city or county). Plus, you pay an additional fee for usage. The problem with roadways in general is the long term planning. Projects don't get funded for future traffic projections 20 years in the future. These expansion projects are funded by collected traffic counts and accident data from the previous 2 years; therefore, any additional pavement added will only enhance current traffic patterns and volumes. Additionally, a lot of your interstates were built 40+ yrs ago and sufficient right-of-way was not purchased at that time. Now, it would take 5+ years just to acquire additional ROW just to widen exsiting interstates. So to finally answer your question, I say "no"... privatizing roadways will not increase ingenuity and expand different transportation options. Besides, we still use cars and trucks, not hovercrafts. You just can't really modify our current roadway system.
10. I'd like maglev trains, but I doubt any private corp will foot the bill for that.