by Ron Beitler

It’s time to stop putting off tough conversations. No one encapsulates the message better then Strongtowns.org. This short piece by streetfilms.org does a great job of giving a concise overview.

It’s all about re-examining the intersection of financing, design and long term financial viability of our places. The top-down gas tax system is failing. The answer isn’t raising the tax. In fact, the answer isn’t in the inefficiencies of a top-down system at all. Our system is one where localities get back nickels and dimes on the dollar. It will never work out over the long run. The math doesn’t work.

Let’s scale back D.C.’s role in the equation. Turn the system on its head. Return local control. Make developers pay the true costs of projects by rolling back big gov’t subsidies. Then municipalities will start only building the supporting infrastructure that they can actually afford to maintain. Organic incremental growth is healthier for our local economies. That is the financial foundation of smart growth. 

(Cross posted from Smart Growth for Lower Macungie.)