Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/652983
I n 2016, highway congestion, the time we spend stuck in traffic, hit record levels. In our major cities, the trans- portation infrastructure has reached peak dysfunction. But, it's not going to stay this way. Big changes are coming, and if you build roads or bridges, your future is going to look dra- matically different. Our editors spent the last year digging deep into what the best Ameri- can thinkers and innovators envision for our transportation infrastructure. The insights are intriguing: Forget about volume. If you based your past business on how many lane miles you paved or how many tons of asphalt or concrete you placed, it's time to throw out those formulas. The car – the privately owned, inter- nal-combustion vehicle – has been with us for a century. But, that chap- ter in American life is coming to an end. In its place, will be a transportation system that makes extensive use of light rail, public transit, autonomous cars, electric and hybrid vehicles, and bicycle and pedestrian zones. Urban planning will assume a central role in transportation planning, rather than being an afterthought (as it currently is). New funding strategies will emerge to re- place the federal gas tax. States will serve as laboratories for funding innovation. New materials, machines, and technol- ogy will enable more durable, cost-efficient highway construction. A new, trans- national system of superhighways will connect con- tinents, boosting trade and truck- ing to unprec- edented levels. In the articles to follow, we in- troduce the new paradigm, High- ways 2.0, to give you a first look at the ideas, trends, and technology that will trans- form these con- cepts into reality. EquipmentWorld.com | March 2016 23 } } In 1956, the Eisenhower Interstate System supercharged our economy and provided good, middle class jobs to millions of Americans for more than 40 years. It changed the face and character of America. What followed was stasis, neglect and continuing resolutions. The problem: The Greatest Generation gave way to the Gridlock Generation. Explore Highways 2.0 Check out equipmentworld.com for additional Highways 2.0 content, including tools, technology and materials. p 24 p 42 Rise of the smart car Avoiding the collision course...p. 26 Coming now: Autonomous trucks...p. 28 Connectivity shapes attitudes toward transportation Connected vehicles...p. 32 Sensory bridges...p. 32 Urban planning puts transportation first Missouri's Road to Tomorrow...p. 36 Funding: States take on the funding challenge Global Highways: Moving toward an era of megaprojects What does Highways 2.0 mean for contractors? p 30 p 34 p 38 p 40