Policy Picnic: Oregon's War on Driving Failed. Now What?

In 1991, Oregon adopted a goal of reducing vehicle miles traveled by 20% over a 30-year period. Proponents claimed that such a reduction would improve air quality, increase demand for public transit, reduce the rate of global warming, lower traffic-related fatalities, and help improve the livability of cities. The 30-year clock is running out, and it's clear that the original goal will not be met. Even before the pandemic, transit ridership in major cities was falling, and reliance on auto travel—especially SUVs and pick-ups—was increasing. The only real impact of Oregon's Transportation Planning Rule has been to add new bureaucratic delays to virtually any new construction project. Cascade Policy Institute analyst Vlad Yurlov has written a detailed case study of this central-planning failure. Listen to Vlad Yurlov's presentation of the Transportation Planning Rule as well as a discussion about the future of transportation in Oregon.