PDF Summary:Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, by Charles L. Marohn Jr.

The transportation systems that shape our cities and neighborhoods are not as neutral and technical as they may seem. In Confessions of a Recovering Engineer, Charles L. Marohn Jr. reveals how the values, priorities, and rigid standards of the engineering profession lead to costly, car-centric infrastructure that often conflicts with community needs.

Marohn examines the flawed incentives and methods behind transportation funding and evaluations. He then makes a case for public transit as a means to promote economic growth, outlining how transit that enhances walkable neighborhoods can sustainably capture its own value—rather than relying on fares and subsidies.

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• Prioritizing swift transit can make a city more competitive and attractive to outside investment, which can lead to job creation and increased funding for community projects, including those that enhance walkability.
• The decision to prioritize mobility may be based on comprehensive studies and data that suggest such projects will yield the greatest benefit for the largest number of people in the community.
• Efficient vehicular movement can be a catalyst for economic growth, as it facilitates the movement of goods and services, potentially benefiting local businesses.

The techniques commonly used to evaluate transportation projects are flawed due to their reliance on dubious assumptions and their failure to account for the costs of continuous maintenance and negative impacts.

Marohn argues that traditional approaches to assessing transportation projects are inherently defective because they fail to consider the continuous costs associated with maintenance and the harmful impacts. The evaluations often highlight short-term advantages without considering the lasting financial burdens they impose on the community.

Marohn questions the idea that the worth individuals assign to time can be quantified in simple numerical terms. They frequently underestimate the costs related to maintenance, presuming that the infrastructure will persist in a pristine state for an extended period, yet they fail to consider the unavoidable deterioration, the essential need for upkeep, and the economic strain of renewing what has worn out. Moreover, such research often fails to consider the negative consequences associated with transport projects, such as the destruction of communal spaces, the decline of local businesses, and the rising costs associated with the expansion of suburban living areas.

Other Perspectives

• Economic models used in project evaluations typically include discount rates to account for the time value of money, which can capture the long-term financial implications of maintenance and negative impacts.
• Evaluations that emphasize short-term advantages may do so because the benefits, such as reduced travel time and economic stimulation, can lead to increased revenue that can then be allocated to address long-term financial burdens.
• Quantifying time in numerical terms allows for a common language in policy and economic analysis, enabling decision-makers to assess trade-offs and make informed choices about transportation investments.
• Some transportation projects are designed with innovative materials and construction methods that aim to minimize maintenance needs, potentially justifying a more optimistic assumption about their longevity.
• Maintenance and renewal costs can be, and often are, planned for in advance through dedicated funds or long-term budgeting strategies, which can alleviate the economic strain over time.
• The decline of local businesses may not be directly attributable to transportation projects, as market dynamics and consumer preferences can also play significant roles in business success or failure.

Engineers frequently give precedence to large and expensive projects over modest, community-level contributions.

The author contends that the incentive structure within the engineering field tends to prioritize larger and more expensive projects over those that are smaller in scale and focused on serving the immediate community. The focus shifts from resolving problems to initiating new projects. This tendency stems from several factors: First, the compensation structure for engineering firms, which is frequently based on the total cost of a project, inherently motivates the suggestion of designs that are more intricate and costly.

Second, engineers often pursue recognition and prestige within their profession, leading them to prefer complex and impressive projects that might not consistently coincide with the best interests of the community. Ultimately, the prevailing economic structures, which benefit from higher-level government subsidies, intensify this inclination by promoting large, uniform projects rather than endeavors that are smaller and more adaptable. Marohn argues that focusing on large-scale infrastructure projects results in the misdirection of funds that could be better spent on crucial investments yielding significant returns and meeting the fundamental needs of local communities.

Practical Tips

• Create a simple game with friends or family where you design a project with a limited budget. Each participant takes a turn to propose a design and explains how it maximizes functionality without increasing costs. This game can help you practice cost-effective thinking and understand the balance between design complexity and cost efficiency in a low-stakes, social setting.
• Create a peer recognition program at your workplace or within your professional network where engineers can nominate and vote for the most impactful community-oriented projects of the year. This could be as simple as a monthly email where colleagues can submit nominations, followed by a vote, with the winner receiving a small token of appreciation, such as a gift card or a feature in a company newsletter.
• You can support small, local businesses by choosing to shop at independent stores rather than large chains. By doing this, you're voting with your wallet for a diverse economic landscape. For example, buy your coffee from a local café instead of a multinational chain, or choose a neighborhood bookstore over an online giant.
• Consider volunteering for a local organization that focuses on community improvement. This hands-on approach allows you to contribute to projects that have immediate benefits for your neighbors. For instance, join a group that plants trees in urban areas or helps maintain public gardens, thereby enhancing the local environment and fostering community spirit.

Economic evaluations that often function more as promotional tools than genuine assessments are commonly used to rationalize transportation initiatives, obscuring the true benefits and costs to the communities affected.

Marohn argues that the justification for transportation projects often resembles elaborate propaganda aimed at securing funding, while it obscures the true expenses and benefits to local residents. Marohn contends that such misconceptions drive the chase for projects based on deceptive benefits rather than conducting a genuine assessment of their outcomes.

Investments in infrastructure, when assessed for their economic benefits by taking into account the reduction in time spent traveling, often exaggerate their value by not accounting for the actual value people assign to their time.

The writer disputes the widespread but misleading method of employing time-savings calculations to overstate the benefits of transport projects. The assumption that time can be measured and equated to economic worth forms the basis of these ostensibly empirical assessments, yet it fails to consider the complex essence of human experiences and the subjective experience of time.

The estimation of time conserved often applies a consistent hourly value to represent the worth of time for all drivers, ignoring differences in income, types of employment, and personal time constraints. The common assumption is that the hours saved due to a transportation project will be utilized for productive activities, but this ignores the chance that individuals may choose to dedicate this time to leisure, relaxation, or personal interests, which do not produce measurable economic benefits. Marohn argues that these calculations distort the financial forecasts of the project, overstating its benefits and misleading policymakers.

Other Perspectives

• Time-savings calculations are not necessarily intended to capture the full spectrum of human experience but to provide a standardized metric for comparing the efficiency of different infrastructure projects.
• The economic value of time saved can be significant for businesses and commercial activities, where time directly correlates with productivity and profitability, suggesting that in some contexts, these benefits are not overstated.
• The value of time can be estimated using willingness-to-pay approaches, where individuals reveal how much they are willing to spend to save time, thus providing a market-based valuation.
• A consistent hourly value can serve as a baseline for initial estimates, which can later be refined to account for variations among different groups of drivers.
• Time-savings calculations may not need to account for individual differences if the primary goal is to assess the broad economic impact on a region or country, where individual variations tend to average out.
• Time saved from reduced travel can indeed be used for productive activities, as many individuals use extra time to work more, either in their primary job or by pursuing side projects and entrepreneurial endeavors.
• The assumption that time saved will be used for non-productive activities may not hold true for all individuals, as personal preferences and circumstances vary widely.
• Leisure time can be used for personal development and education, which can enhance an individual's economic value and future earning potential.
• Time savings are just one of many factors considered in financial forecasts, and while they may be emphasized, they do not necessarily distort the overall financial picture if they are weighed appropriately against other factors.
• Financial forecasts are based on models that use the best available data at the time; while they may not be perfect, they provide a necessary framework for decision-making and can be adjusted as more information becomes available.
• Policymakers might also consider non-economic benefits such as improved quality of life or environmental impacts, which means they are not solely influenced by economic overstatements.

Forecasts of economic growth and advancement that accompany many transportation initiatives tend to be excessively optimistic, failing to acknowledge that they frequently merely shift current economic activity rather than creating authentic new growth.

Marohn emphasizes the commonly held but incorrect assumption that economic and community growth is directly linked to transportation projects. These forecasts, typically portrayed as guaranteed beneficial results, commonly rest on incorrect premises and overlook the shifting of economic activity from one area to another within the same locality.

Often, these evaluations assume that channeling funds into transport networks will immediately stimulate economic growth, yet they overlook the complexities of community economies, changing market forces, and the effects of external factors. Marohn argues that, more often than not, large transportation projects merely shift economic activity from one area to another, resulting in a net-zero, or even negative, impact on the overall community. This shift, he contends, can particularly harm long-standing business districts and neighborhood communities, leading to decay, diminished financial commitment, and the depletion of shared assets.

Context

• Traditional economic models often used in planning assume a direct correlation between infrastructure investment and economic output, which can oversimplify the complex interactions within modern economies.
• Initial economic boosts from construction jobs and increased traffic can be temporary, while the long-term economic benefits may not materialize as expected.
• Sometimes, data showing increased economic activity post-investment is misinterpreted as new growth rather than a redistribution of existing activity.
• Large projects often come with environmental and social costs, such as increased pollution and disruption to communities, which can offset any economic benefits.
• Encouraging development in new areas can contribute to urban sprawl, leading to inefficient land use and increased reliance on automobiles, which can further strain public resources.
• These projects can disproportionately affect marginalized communities, often leading to gentrification or reduced access to affordable housing and services.
• These encompass broader economic conditions such as inflation, interest rates, and global trade policies. For example, a rise in fuel prices could reduce the expected increase in traffic and economic activity from a new road project.

The justification for projects often hinges on the expected benefits of linked systems and concentrated economic activities; yet, these reasons are typically based on flawed research and fail to truly reflect the impact on local communities.

Marohn questions the rationale behind major transportation projects, arguing that the frequently mentioned economic advantages and the so-called "network effects" associated with urban density are overstated. The concepts, while seemingly convincing, often originate from dubious research and fail to depict the true impact on residents of the community. He cautions against relying solely on academic studies that may not capture the complex realities of local economies and social dynamics.

Advocates for major infrastructure projects often highlight research linking higher spending on transportation to economic expansion, but they fail to consider that such research typically concentrates on metropolitan areas where mass transit is crucial, a stark contrast to the automobile-dependent localities prevalent in North America. The author argues that these evaluations often fail to consider the negative consequences of significant road developments, such as the swift expansion of suburban regions, the increase in automobile dependency, and the displacement of local enterprises.

Other Perspectives

• Network effects are not merely theoretical; they are observed phenomena where the value of a service increases for each user as more people use it, which can apply to transportation systems and contribute to urban vibrancy.
• Critiques of research on economic benefits and network effects often lead to further studies that refine the understanding of these concepts, contributing to a more nuanced view of their impact on local communities.
• The use of case studies and post-implementation reviews can provide empirical evidence of the positive impacts of infrastructure projects on local communities, countering the notion that the benefits are not accurately reflected.
• The opportunity cost of transportation spending is often overlooked; funds allocated to these projects could potentially yield greater economic benefits if invested in other areas such as education or healthcare.
• The concentration on metropolitan areas in some research does not necessarily imply a neglect of automobile-dependent regions but may reflect the current priorities or pressing issues within the field of transportation planning at the time of the studies.
• Road developments can be part of a multimodal transportation strategy that includes provisions for public transit, cycling, and walking, thereby not necessarily increasing automobile dependency.

The importance of enhancing public transportation due to its role in bolstering the economies of local communities.

City centers experience a notable boost in economic growth and liveliness, largely due to the impact of public transportation. Marohn contends that transit should be considered not solely as an instrument for societal or ecological support, but also as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity, especially when it harmonizes with plans tailored to a community's distinct attributes.

Public transportation networks offer communities a chance to generate wealth, but often this possibility is not maximized due to current approaches.

Marohn suggests that with thoughtful planning and implementation, public transportation can naturally invigorate the local economies of communities. He contends that transportation systems focused on cars often lead to widespread and financially precarious development, whereas carefully designed public transportation systems can foster the development of compact, walkable urban spaces, which in turn enhance both the economic vitality and the overall appeal and livability of neighborhoods.

Transit is frequently perceived as either a benevolent service for those in need or as a luxury for the wealthy, instead of being recognized as a fundamental approach to fostering communal wealth.

The author expresses regret over the common view that public transit is seen as a benevolent service for the less affluent or as a luxury for the wealthy. This narrow perspective, he argues, not only diminishes its efficacy and attractiveness but also overlooks its fundamental potential to greatly enhance the well-being of whole communities. Marohn argues that public transit should be seen as an investment in the economic well-being of a city, capable of generating a positive return for all residents, regardless of income or lifestyle choices.

Context

• Public transit systems in many cities were initially developed to serve a broad spectrum of the population, but over time, as car ownership became more widespread, public transit often became associated with those who could not afford private vehicles.
• Overlooking transit's role in reducing traffic congestion and pollution can hinder efforts to create sustainable urban environments.

Public transportation networks thrive when they are smoothly incorporated into the community's wider transportation framework, thereby augmenting the roads' role in fostering economic growth.

Public transportation is most efficient when it is integrated seamlessly with the community's infrastructure, thereby promoting economic development. We must start seeing public transportation as an extensive network that extends into less densely populated regions, offering services that may not always be reliable or timely, rather than merely a supplementary component to a car-centric system.

Public transportation ought to be conceived as a vital component within a vibrant, walkable city environment, ensuring smooth and pleasant transit for people to reach their intended locations. To meet this need, it's essential to prioritize dependable service in areas with diverse uses, making sure that the proximity of transit stations to homes, businesses, and community amenities allows for convenient pedestrian access. Transit, when deployed in this way, becomes a catalyst for investment, enhancing the value of properties, attracting businesses, and making neighborhoods more desirable places to live, work, and play.

Practical Tips

• Participate in or initiate a 'car-free day' in your neighborhood to raise awareness about the benefits of public transportation. On this day, you and your neighbors agree to use only public transportation, walk, or bike. This can demonstrate the potential for a more walkable community and may encourage local authorities to consider infrastructure improvements that support this lifestyle.
• You can evaluate the reliability of services in your area by creating a simple survey for local residents and businesses to fill out. Distribute this survey both online and in person to gather data on which services are most valued and dependable. For example, if you find that waste management is highly rated for reliability, you might consider investing in property near such well-regarded service areas, as this could indicate a potential for higher property value.

The focus of public transportation should shift from prioritizing efficiency to fostering a healthier and more sustainable community.

Marohn advocates for a radical shift in public transportation policy that prioritizes the development of systems designed to enhance community wealth and resilience rather than maintaining extensive networks that require substantial financial support. Transit systems should be structured and funded in ways that create positive feedback loops, where successful places lead to greater transit ridership, generating demand for more development and further investment in transit.

Public transportation infrastructure funding should be derived from mechanisms that capture the created value, rather than relying on revenue from fare collection or financial assistance from governmental entities.

Marohn proposes funding enhancements to infrastructure by capturing the economic gains they generate, instead of relying chiefly on revenue from fares or subsidies from the government. The strategies implemented ensure that transit projects are self-sustaining and additionally enhance the economic vitality of the regions they serve.

He proposes various fiscal strategies, including imposing charges on properties that appreciate because of improvements to the transportation network, establishing areas where property holders contribute to transportation costs, and designating a portion of property or land tax income exclusively for the support of transportation systems. This approach aligns the financial motivations of public transit with the goals of the community, creating a virtuous cycle where improved public transit services increase property values, which in turn generates more revenue to fund further improvements in public transit.

Practical Tips

• Encourage your employer to participate in a transit pass benefit program that contributes to public transportation funding. Suggest to your company's human resources department that offering subsidized transit passes to employees can reduce traffic congestion and support the local economy. This not only promotes the use of public transportation but also indirectly contributes to its funding through increased ridership and potential partnerships with transit agencies.
• Start a crowdfunding campaign for a local transportation project. Crowdfunding allows community members to directly fund specific projects they care about. By contributing to such campaigns, you're participating in an alternative funding method that can help bring new transportation services or improvements to life without relying solely on fares or government subsidies.
• Create a neighborhood watch group focused on fiscal health, where you and your neighbors can monitor and discuss the effects of local infrastructure improvements on property values. Use this platform to share observations, gather collective data, and propose community initiatives that align with the idea of leveraging increased property values for communal benefits. This grassroots approach can lead to more informed and engaged citizens who understand the fiscal implications of urban development.
• You can advocate for the allocation of property or land tax income to transportation by writing to your local representatives to express your support for such policies. Explain in your letter how improved transportation can benefit the community, potentially increase property values, and contribute to environmental sustainability. This personal action can influence policymakers to consider or prioritize funding transportation through tax revenues.

Investment in the public transportation system should be carefully planned to improve and grow its network, ensuring that the revenue from ticket sales covers the costs of operation and upkeep.

The writer argues that the income generated from ticket sales should be sufficient to sustain the upkeep and functioning of public transportation networks, thereby ensuring their financial self-sufficiency and facilitating intentional improvements and growth in the services provided. He considers the revenue generated from ticket sales to be the clearest and most accurate measure of a public transit system's value, indicating its utilization and demand for its services.

The ability of transit agencies to adjust their schedules and services is influenced by their reliance on ticket sales for maintaining and operating their systems, which in turn allows them to adapt to the evolving needs of their riders. Adopting this method enhances agility and effectiveness, guaranteeing that resources are directed towards the most sought-after services.

Practical Tips

• Consider swapping skills or services with friends to offset costs without spending money. If you're planning an event or project that requires a service you cannot perform, like graphic design or photography, find a friend who can do it and offer your skills in exchange. This barter system can help you keep costs low while still ensuring high-quality results.
• Develop a habit of conducting a monthly "performance review" of your expenses, akin to analyzing ticket sales after an event. At the end of each month, review your bank statements and categorize your expenses. Determine which areas were over or underfunded and adjust your budget for the next month accordingly. This practice encourages you to be proactive and flexible with your spending, mirroring the agility of an event planner responding to ticket sale trends.
• You can track your own public transportation usage to understand personal demand patterns. Start by logging every trip you take on public transport, noting the time, date, and purpose. After a month, review your log to identify which services you use most and least. This personal data can help you advocate for better services in your area or adjust your own habits to take advantage of less crowded times or routes.

Investment in public transportation should support the organic growth of walkable and prosperous communities rather than enforcing large-scale, top-down projects.

Marohn champions the development of pedestrian-friendly, productive neighborhoods through the gradual, locally-led efforts that are enhanced by readily available transportation alternatives. Public transportation that operates efficiently frequently catalyzes the emergence of densely populated areas that serve multiple purposes and are economically viable as well as attractive for living.

He recommends the introduction of regular and well-scheduled mass transit services in areas with high population density, and then adapting and expanding these services to align with the changing requirements of the local populace. Cities have the ability to gradually build robust systems for transportation that align with the actual needs of the community, ensuring that the services delivered meet the expectations of the residents. This approach fosters a cycle that attracts investment, elevates real estate worth, and generates more resources for future upgrades to transportation networks.

Practical Tips

• Opt for housing that promotes a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle to personally contribute to the development of such neighborhoods. When looking for a new place to live, prioritize locations with amenities within walking distance and good public transportation links. This choice will not only reduce your reliance on a car but also signal to developers and city planners that there is a market for pedestrian-oriented developments.
• Provide feedback to local transit authorities through their official channels, such as customer surveys or public forums. Detail your experiences with current services and suggest specific improvements, like increased frequency during peak hours. Personal stories of missed appointments or long waits due to infrequent services can be powerful motivators for change.
• Use ride-sharing apps to organize carpools with neighbors for common destinations like work or school. This not only reduces the number of vehicles on the road but also provides data on popular routes and times, which can be shared with transportation planners to highlight the need for better public transit options in those areas.
• Consider joining a real estate investment group as a way to pool resources and knowledge with others interested in capitalizing on properties with potential for value increase due to transportation upgrades. Within the group, you could focus on identifying properties that are likely to benefit from planned infrastructure projects, thus applying the concept of strategic investment based on future developments.