Hit the road, jack

Highways to heaven (or thereabouts)

The Chinese have a bunch of proverbs. Modern economists might consider this one among the best: “To get rich, first build a road.”

Before you build a road, you’ll need a tax. Oh, Lord, do you need a tax. As much as We the People might bemoan the taxman, most of us understand why he’s needed. (Even the Lord wanted a Matthew among the Twelve.)

Separating individuals from their money when they don’t immediately receive something tangible in return is not an easy ask. But that’s what street and roads people are often asked to ask.

Eleven years ago, Arkansas voters increased the sales tax by a half-cent for the sake of creating and/or building upon a semi-good road system. (At least if you weren’t driving to Memphis.) Three years ago, voters reaffirmed that commitment by voting for its continuation.

Many may have seen it as a way to improve their personal quality of life by paying for a road system that would get them from one part of the state to another more efficiently. In reality, however, it did far more than that.

It raised $1.8 billion, which has been spent wisely by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. And they’re celebrating. Good for them. Good for all of us.

The Department of Transportation promised 31 projects across the state. And delivered 31 projects across the state.

Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, said, “These projects increased safety, reduced congestion, provided connectivity and mobility, and promoted job growth and the economy of Arkansas.”

When it comes to roads, the better they are, the better the state is. (We are reminded of the ol’ boy from Nevada County, Ark., who listened to his wife complain bitterly about the construction on I-30 on a visit to Little Rock. He reminded her: You think the construction makes the driving bad today? Honey, think about the drive in 10 years without the construction!)

National studies have shown that Arkansas does a pretty good job when it comes to building and maintaining our road system, and these projects have done nothing but add to our good reputation along these lines.

This is more important than some may think. Because when the state tries to recruit business, it needs a few things going for us. Among them are not only an educated workforce, but a solid school system. Time will tell whether the LEARNS Act helps Arkansas achieve higher national rankings, but even if it does, we have a mountain to climb and decades to erase when it comes to being seen positively in that respect.

Until Arkansas can improve its national education ranking, our national ranking on highways can soften the blow. Our road network (and the quality of it) are critical in receiving the materials necessary to produce the products we manufacture, as well as ship the resulting products to markets far and wide.

And, lest we forget, efficient transportation is also critical in distributing not only the products that come through the Port of Little Rock but also shipping what we grow, like timber and various agricultural products.

With Little Rock situated within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population, the city is a logistics hub and the state simply can’t afford not to invest in the highway system.

The Department of Transportation is fully justified in taking a victory lap for its success in delivering these 31 projects with the money provided them. Given the department’s successful management so far, we’re confident leaders there understand it’s just one victory in an eternal and constantly evolving season of keeping up with the rest of the country. Anything less is the same as falling behind.

Which reminds of another Chinese proverb, slightly modified: Learning, or anything else, can be like sailing against a current; if you don’t advance, you might be driven back.