Since the 1956 inception of the Highway Trust Fund, the U.S. has spent approximately $2.5 trillion (inflation-adjusted) on highways, with 60% of that investment occurring after the Interstate System was largely completed in 1992. Despite shifting public priorities toward safety and equity, planners have since added 75% more urban interstate lane miles.

In this lecture, Erick Guerra reflects on his book Overbuilt and argues that the costs of this continued expansion outweigh the benefits. He traces the historical context of our roadway obsession and examines the economic and social consequences of overbuilding. By analyzing the mechanics of the gas tax and transportation finance, Guerra reveals why the U.S. remains committed to increasing roadway capacity. Importantly, the book provides a roadmap for reform, showing how new evaluation measures can help policymakers stop and correct decades of overbuilding.

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