| Abstract: | The role of transportation in a regional economy is explored with a simulation model under various levels of energy availability and highway funding. Several policy options are investigated. Increased highway funding did not induce additional urban growth once energy started to be limiting in the whole system. Under these energy-limiting conditions, increases in the proportion of energy alloted to transportation also failed to induce urban growth. Decreases in energy flow to the highway sector helped conserve the fuels. Reduction in gasoline consumption without a tax surcharge did not conserve total fuel use, while reduction with a tax surcharge did help conserve fuels. |
