Robert Poole - What's Wrong With America's Highways?
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Robert Poole - What's Wrong With America's Highways?

47:04 Aug 13, 2025
About this episode
In this episode, Alex speaks with transportation policy expert Robert Poole about his book Rethinking America’s Highways. Poole makes the case for replacing the current tax-funded, politically managed highway system with a customer-focused, market-based model. He outlines how tolling, public-private partnerships, and long-term concessions can improve infrastructure, reduce congestion, and provide sustainable funding. The discussion examines lessons from international examples, the political and technical barriers to reform, and why a shift in mindset is essential for meeting America’s future mobility needs. References Rethinking America’s Highways — Robert Poole https://a.co/d/1gu8lWE Robert Poole — Reason Foundation Profile https://reason.org/author/robert-poole/ Modernizing the Interstate Highway System via Toll Finance — Robert Poole (Reason Foundation) https://reason.org/policy-study/modernizing-the-interstate-highway/ Funding & Finance — Eno Center for Transportation https://enotrans.org/topics/funding-finance/ The Big Roads — Earl Swift https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-big-roads Infrastructure Economics and Policy: International Perspectives — José A. Gómez-Ibáñez & Zhi Liu (eds.) https://www.booktopia.com.au/infrastructure-economics-and-policy-jose-a-gomez-ibanez/book/9781558444188.html Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask
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