This blog is the third in a three-part series examining what rising gas prices reveal about the U.S. transportation system. As global disruptions push fuel prices higher, this series explores how Americans are affected (part 1), how people adapt (part 2), and what a more resilient transportation future looks like (part 3).
By Briant Novinska-Lois
Recent spikes in gas prices expose a fragile system that financially strains car-dependent households. When prices rise, however, people adapt in surprising ways, especially when they have reliable options. Transportation leaders can seize this moment to take steps toward reducing car dependency and building systems that are resilient by providing more affordable travel choices before the next disruption occurs or if the current trends continue.
To get there requires moving away from the traditional “predict and provide” approach, which relies on complex models that often fail to forecast human behavior accurately. Instead, a “decide and provide” approach – where leaders lead with community values – directs proactive investments into more human-centered and adaptable networks, such as faster transit and safer streets for walking and biking. Those investments would ensure that when the next disruption hits, people have robust choices that keep them moving without the financial pain at the gas pumps.
Electric vehicles deliver clear benefits – lower operating costs, cleaner air, and reduced exposure to volatile gasoline prices – and warrant stronger support. However, they remain largely unaffordable and won’t fix a fragile transportation system by themselves. Rising vehicle ownership costs (up ~40% since 2020), slower EV adoption, and waning federal support for charging and tax credits mean states must act to ensure equitable access: update building codes for EV-ready infrastructure, partner with utilities to expand grid capacity fairly, and fund community programs that lower upfront costs for renters and low-income households. But even with stronger state action, EVs alone aren’t enough. True resilience requires expanding transportation choices, so communities can better adapt to shocks without depending on a single, expensive way to travel.
One way to start doing that is to prioritize fast, frequent public transit and create a “virtuous cycle” of ridership; researchers find that such investments can boost ridership by 40% or more, which helps generate the political and financial support needed to sustain the service. Some states are already showing how to do this. Illinois, for example, approved $1.5 billion for transit by using a share of gas taxes and sales tax increases. In Pennsylvania, the governor redirected $153 million from highway funds to transit to help Philadelphia’s transit agency avoid service cuts.
Resilience also means creating a world where walking and biking are safe and viable options for at least some daily trips, like going to schools, parks, and restaurants. Instead of prioritizing wide, fast roads that are often the most dangerous, many agencies are now embracing “complete streets” that not only improve safety, but also save people money. Our Innovative DOT framework outlines the many ways state and local transportation agencies can build for people, and not just cars.
Finally, a world of abundant transportation choices depends on efficient development patterns: compact, mixed-use neighborhoods where homes, jobs, shops, and services sit within short walking or biking distances. Agencies must work with land-use planners to support this kind of “localism,” which would reduce the need for vehicle ownership and make households less vulnerable to global oil markets or shifting federal priorities. By leading with community values, such as resiliency and choice, transportation agencies can build a future that remains connected and stable no matter what shocks come next.
Photo credit: Maxim Klimashin on Unsplash. License.