CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gform;gform||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener("gform/theme/scripts_loaded",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>"function"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn("The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1."),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener("gform_main_scripts_loaded",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener("gform/theme/scripts_loaded",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook("action",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook("filter",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook("action",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook("filter",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook("action",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook("filter",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+"_"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){"function"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),"action"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),"filter"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}}); /* ]]> */ </script> <title>Inland waterway system funding: Problems and solutions</title> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/fontawesome-webfont.woff2?v=4.7.0" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/fontawesome-webfont.woff?v=4.7.0" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/fontawesome-webfont.ttf?v=4.7.0" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/fontawesome-webfont.svg?v=4.7.0#fontawesomeregular" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-regular.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-regular.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-regular.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-regular.svg#OpenSans" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-italic.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-italic.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-italic.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-italic.svg#OpenSans" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600.svg#OpenSans" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600italic.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600italic.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600italic.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-600italic.svg#OpenSans" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-700.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-700.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-700.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/open-sans-v15-latin/open-sans-v15-latin-700.svg#OpenSans" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-regular.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-regular.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-regular.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-regular.svg#Merriweather" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-italic.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-italic.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-italic.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-italic.svg#Merriweather" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-700.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-700.woff" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-700.ttf" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/resources/assets/fonts/google/merriweather-v19-latin/merriweather-v19-latin-700.svg#Merriweather" crossorigin> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="4cRBy6j_d9xgfv86Ad5G2o4P4YR9P8iyou2PXgSBF80"/> <meta name="facebook-domain-verification" content="fj21mh65qj7wdod6x0lcnkugczx9ka"/> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="A53943D6A45163AA82D8CA30D48F858D"/> <meta name="ahrefs-site-verification" content="195fb2e0a87e1cda0a8697523be29da466dbdf78b29c6985b96ab37b74e24de8"> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="231085004075801"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system"> <meta property="article:tag" content="Transportation"/> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-03-26T10:00:00+00:00"/> <meta property="article:section" content="Policy Studies"/> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"pageTitle":"How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system","article_post_type":"Policy Studies","article_author":"jay-derr","article_topic":"Transportation"}); </script> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style>  <meta name="description" content="Given the importance of the inland waterway system to supply chains across the country, it must be revitalized in a more cost-effective manner that doesn’t unduly burden general taxpayers." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Inland waterway system funding: Problems and solutions" /> <meta property="og:description" content="There's an $800 million backlog of current inland waterway system projects and another $6 billion worth of projects planned, but not yet started." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Reason Foundation" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/ReasonFoundation/" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-03-29T15:06:28+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-scaled.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="2560" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1668" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Inland waterway system funding: Problems and solutions" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ReasonFdn" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="2 minutes" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="Jay Derr" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/"},"author":[{"@id":"https://reason.org/#/schema/person/ed15a7c1b20908b0c7f97e16df46a28a"}],"headline":"How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system","datePublished":"2024-03-26T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-29T15:06:28+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/"},"wordCount":385,"publisher":{"@id":"https://reason.org/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Transportation"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/","url":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/","name":"Inland waterway system funding: Problems and solutions","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://reason.org/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2024-03-26T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-29T15:06:28+00:00","description":"Given the importance of the inland waterway system to supply chains across the country, it must be revitalized in a more cost-effective manner that doesn’t unduly burden general taxpayers.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#primaryimage","url":"https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1668,"caption":"A barge moves along the Huron River in Michigan at dusk."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://reason.org/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Topics","item":"https://reason.org/policy-areas/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Transportation","item":"https://reason.org/topics/transportation/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://reason.org/#website","url":"https://reason.org/","name":"Reason Foundation","description":"Free Minds and Free Markets","publisher":{"@id":"https://reason.org/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://reason.org/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://reason.org/#organization","name":"Reason Foundation","url":"https://reason.org/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://reason.org/#/schema/logo/image/","url":"https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/placeholder.png","contentUrl":"https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/placeholder.png","width":800,"height":450,"caption":"Reason Foundation"},"image":{"@id":"https://reason.org/#/schema/logo/image/"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/ReasonFoundation/","https://x.com/ReasonFdn","https://www.linkedin.com/company/reason-foundation/","https://www.youtube.com/user/ReasonTV","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_Foundation"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://reason.org/#/schema/person/ed15a7c1b20908b0c7f97e16df46a28a","name":"Jay Derr","url":"https://reason.org/author/jay-derr/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//www.google.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me' /> <link href='https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me' rel='preconnect' /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.7.1"> <style id='co-authors-plus-coauthors-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-co-authors-plus-coauthors.is-layout-flow [class*=wp-block-co-authors-plus]{display:inline} </style> <style id='co-authors-plus-avatar-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar :where(img){height:auto;max-width:100%;vertical-align:bottom}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-coauthors.is-layout-flow .wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar :where(img){vertical-align:middle}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar:is(.alignleft,.alignright){display:table}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar.aligncenter{display:table;margin-inline:auto} </style> <style id='co-authors-plus-image-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-co-authors-plus-image{margin-bottom:0}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image :where(img){height:auto;max-width:100%;vertical-align:bottom}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-coauthors.is-layout-flow .wp-block-co-authors-plus-image :where(img){vertical-align:middle}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image:is(.alignfull,.alignwide) :where(img){width:100%}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image:is(.alignleft,.alignright){display:table}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image.aligncenter{display:table;margin-inline:auto} </style> <style id='reason-blocks-reason-toc-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .toc-wrapper{line-height:2;padding:0 1em 1em}.wp-block-reason-blocks-reason-toc ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.wp-block-reason-blocks-reason-toc ul ul{padding-left:2em}.wp-block-reason-blocks-reason-toc li{line-height:1.6!important}.wp-block-reason-blocks-reason-toc li a{color:#aaa;display:inline-block;line-height:1.3!important;text-decoration:none;transition:all .3s cubic-bezier(.23,1,.32,1)}.wp-block-reason-blocks-reason-toc li.visible>a{color:#111;transform:translate(5px)}.toc-marker{height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;z-index:-1}.toc-marker path{transition:all .3s ease}nav.toc.d-xl-block a:hover{color:#111;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #231f20;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #fff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--reason-orange: #FF6C2F;--wp--preset--color--brand-blue: #005daa;--wp--preset--color--dark-gray: #4e4e4e;--wp--preset--color--light-gray: #eee;--wp--preset--color--mid-gray: #ccc;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/wp-content/plugins/maropress/css/maropress-main.css?ver=240516-75157"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/wp-content/tablepress-combined.min.css?ver=2"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/tablepress-premium/modules/css/build/datatables.buttons.css?ver=3.0.1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/tablepress-premium/modules/css/build/datatables.columnfilterwidgets.css?ver=3.0.1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/tablepress-premium/modules/css/build/datatables.fixedheader.css?ver=3.0.1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/tablepress-premium/modules/css/build/datatables.fixedcolumns.css?ver=3.0.1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/tablepress-premium/modules/css/build/datatables.scroll-buttons.css?ver=3.0.1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/tablepress-premium/modules/css/build/responsive-tables.css?ver=3.0.1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/dist/styles/main_01f29b5d.css?ver=674f701ea3f4c"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://reason.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://reason.org/wp-json/wp/v2/policy-study/73317" /><link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://reason.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://reason.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F&format=xml" />  <meta name="tec-api-version" content="v1"><meta name="tec-api-origin" content="https://reason.org"><link rel="alternate" href="https://reason.org/wp-json/tribe/events/v1/" />  <script data-cookieconsent="ignore"> (function ( w, d, s, l, i ) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push( { "gtm.start": new Date().getTime(), event: "gtm.js", } ); var f = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[0], j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != "dataLayer" ? "&l=" + l : ""; j.async = true; j.src = "https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=" + i + dl + '&gtm_auth=MAG8ENAbxKpb1v3SqyVH3g&gtm_preview=env-1&gtm_cookies_win=x'; f.parentNode.insertBefore( j, f ); })( window, document, "script", "dataLayer", 'GTM-NPLQV6S' ); </script>  <script src="https://kit.fontawesome.com/fb11e7c284.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <link rel="icon" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-favicon-260x260.png" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-favicon-260x260.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-favicon-300x300.png" /> <noscript><style id="rocket-lazyload-nojs-css">.rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;}</style></noscript> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Reason Foundation Feed" href="https://reason.org/feed/"> </head> <body class="policy-study-template-default single single-policy-study postid-73317 single-format-standard tribe-no-js how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system">  <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id='GTM-NPLQV6S" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript>  <header data-rocket-location-hash="164ea664a5ff3859819e509860cb2f7f" role="banner" id="banner" class="sticky-top"> <nav class="navbar d-none d-md-block navbar-topics-menu" role="navigation" style="margin-bottom:0px;"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div id="socialmenu" class="navbar-collapse collapse show"> <ul id="menu-featured-topics" class="menu"><li><a href="https://reason.org/topics/drug-policy/">Drug Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://reason.org/topics/education/">Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://reason.org/topics/pension-reform/">Pension Reform</a></li> <li><a href="https://reason.org/topics/transportation/">Transportation</a></li> <li><a href="https://reason.org/voters-guide/">Voters’ Guide</a></li> <li><a href="https://reason.org/newsletters/"><b>Email Newsletters</b></a></li> <li class="menu-facebook hidden-sm"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/ReasonFoundation/" class="social-icon facebook"><i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-facebook"></i><span class="sr-only">Reason facebook</span></a></li> <li class="menu-twitter hidden-sm"><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ReasonFdn" class="social-icon twitter"><i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-twitter"></i><span class="sr-only">Reason twitter</span></a></li> <li class="menu-youtube hidden-sm"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ReasonTV" class="social-icon youtube"><i aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-youtube"></i><span class="sr-only">Reason youtube</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-md navbar-main-menu" role="navigation" style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> <div class="container-fluid"> <a class="navbar-brand" href="/"> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%200%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E" alt="Reason Foundation" title="" data-lazy-src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/dist/images/logos/logo-horizontal_0a7d8878.svg" ><noscript><img src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/dist/images/logos/logo-horizontal_0a7d8878.svg" alt="Reason Foundation" title="" ></noscript> </a> <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#defaultmenu" aria-controls="navbarNavDropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <i class="fa fa-bars"></i> </button> <div id="defaultmenu" class="navbar-collapse collapse" style="padding-bottom:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> <ul id="primarynav" class="nav navbar-nav navbar-right"> <li class="dropdown"><a id="aboutMenuDropdown" href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" class="dropdown-toggle" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">About</a> <div class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-left" aria-labelledby="aboutMenuDropdown"> <ul id="menu-about-menu" class="menu"><li class="menu-about-us"><a href="https://reason.org/about-reason-foundation/">About Us</a></li> <li class="menu-contact-us"><a href="https://reason.org/contact-reason-foundation/">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="menu-email-newsletters"><a href="https://reason.org/newsletters/">Email Newsletters</a></li> <li class="menu-events"><a href="/events/">Events</a></li> <li class="menu-faqs"><a href="https://reason.org/frequently-asked-questions/">FAQs</a></li> <li class="menu-jobs-internships"><a href="https://reason.org/jobs/">Jobs & Internships</a></li> <li class="menu-savas-award"><a href="https://reason.org/savas-award-for-privatization/">Savas Award</a></li> <li class="menu-shop"><a href="https://shop.reason.com">Shop</a></li> <li class="menu-staff"><a href="https://reason.org/staff/">Staff</a></li> <li class="menu-trustees-officers"><a href="https://reason.org/trustees-and-officers/">Trustees & Officers</a></li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="dropdown mega"><a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" class="dropdown-toggle">Experts</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu fullwidth"> <div data-rocket-location-hash="c2b2a1461d8b94e639cd80a05325878c" class="container"> <h4 class="bold-header">Browse Our Experts</h4>  <ul id="menu-experts-menu" class="menu"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-aaron-smith"><a href="/author/aaron-smith/">Aaron Smith</a> <div class="jobtitle">Director of Education Reform</div></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-adrian-moore"><a href="/author/adrian-moore/">Adrian Moore</a> <div class="jobtitle">Vice President of Policy</div></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-baruch-feigenbaum"><a href="/author/baruch-feigenbaum/">Baruch Feigenbaum</a> <div class="jobtitle">Senior Managing Director, Transportation Policy</div></div></div></li> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-geoff-lawrence"><a href="https://reason.org/author/geoffrey-lawrence/">Geoff Lawrence</a> <div class="jobtitle">Research Director</div></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-guy-bentley"><a href="/author/guy-bentley/">Guy Bentley</a> <div class="jobtitle">Director of Consumer Freedom </div></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-leonard-gilroy"><a href="/author/leonard-gilroy/">Leonard Gilroy</a> <div class="jobtitle">Vice President of Government Reform</div></div></div></li> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-robert-poole"><a href="/author/robert-poole/">Robert Poole</a> <div class="jobtitle">Director of Transportation Policy</div></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-vittorio-nastasi"><a href="https://reason.org/author/vittorio-nastasi/">Vittorio Nastasi</a> <div class="jobtitle">Director of Criminal Justice Policy</div></div></li> <div class="col-md-4 view-all-button"><li class="menu-view-all-experts"><a href="https://reason.org/experts/">View All Experts</a></div></div></li> </ul>  </div> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown mega"><a href="/policy-areas/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="dropdown-toggle">Topics</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu fullwidth"> <div class="container"> <h4 class="bold-header">Browse Our Topics</h4>  <ul id="menu-topics-menu" class="menu"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-voters-guide"><a href="https://reason.org/voters-guide/">Voters’ Guide</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-annual-highway-report"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/transportation/annual-highway-report/">Annual Highway Report</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-consumer-freedom"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/individual-freedom/">Consumer Freedom</a></div></div></li> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-criminal-justice-reform"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/criminal-justice-reform/">Criminal Justice Reform</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-drug-policy"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/drug-policy/">Drug Policy</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-education"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/education/">Education</a></div></div></li> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-email-newsletters"><a href="https://reason.org/newsletters/">Email Newsletters</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-pension-reform"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/pension-reform/">Pension Reform</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-psychedelics"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/drug-policy/psychedelics/">Psychedelics</a></div></div></li> <div class="row"><div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-technology"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/technology/">Technology</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4"><li class="menu-transportation"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/transportation/">Transportation</a></div></li> <div class="col-md-4 view-all-button"><li class="menu-view-all-topics"><a href="https://reason.org/policy-areas/">View All Topics</a></div></div></li> </ul>  </div> </ul> </li> <li class="dropdown"><a href="/publication-types/" data-toggle="dropdown" class="dropdown-toggle">Publications</a> <div class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-right"> <ul id="menu-publications-menu" class="menu"><li class="menu-voters-guide"><a href="https://reason.org/voters-guide/">Voters’ Guide</a></li> <li class="menu-email-newsletters"><a href="https://reason.org/newsletters/"><b>Email Newsletters</b></a></li> <li class="menu-amicus-briefs"><a href="/amicus-brief/">Amicus Briefs</a></li> <li class="menu-annual-highway-report"><a href="https://reason.org/topics/transportation/annual-highway-report/">Annual Highway Report</a></li> <li class="menu-annual-privatization-report"><a href="/privatization-report/">Annual Privatization Report</a></li> <li class="menu-aviation-newsletter"><a href="/aviation-policy-news/">Aviation Newsletter</a></li> <li class="menu-backgrounders"><a href="/backgrounder/">Backgrounders</a></li> <li class="menu-commentaries"><a href="/commentary/">Commentaries</a></li> <li class="menu-data-visualization"><a href="https://reason.org/data-visualization/">Data Visualization</a></li> <li class="menu-education-newsletter"><a href="https://reason.org/education-newsletter/">Education Newsletter</a></li> <li class="menu-pension-reform-newsletter"><a href="/pension-newsletter/">Pension Reform Newsletter</a></li> <li class="menu-policy-studies"><a href="/policy-study/">Policy Studies</a></li> <li class="menu-psychedelics-newsletter"><a href="https://reason.org/psychedelics-policy/">Psychedelics Newsletter</a></li> <li class="menu-public-schools-without-boundaries"><a href="https://reason.org/open-enrollment/">Public Schools Without Boundaries</a></li> <li class="menu-testimony"><a href="https://reason.org/testimony/">Testimony</a></li> <li class="menu-transportation-newsletter"><a href="/transportation-news/">Transportation Newsletter</a></li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="d-block d-md-none d-lg-block"><a href="https://reason.com" target="_blank" title="Reason Magazine">Reason.com</a></li> <li class="dropdown"> <a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" class="dropdown-toggle">Donate</a> <div class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-right"> <ul id="menu-donate-menu" class="menu"><li class="menu-donate-online"><a href="https://reason.org/donate">Donate Online</a></li> <li class="menu-donate-crypto"><a href="https://reason.org/donate-crypto/">Donate Crypto</a></li> <li class="menu-ways-to-give"><a href="https://reason.org/ways-to-give/">Ways To Give</a></li> <li class="menu-torchbearer-society"><a href="https://reason.org/torchbearer-society/">Torchbearer Society</a></li> <li class="menu-planned-giving"><a href="https://reason.plannedgiving.org/">Planned Giving</a></li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="d-none d-md-none"> <form id="searchnav-hamburger" class="header-search" action="/" name="" method="get"> <div class="input-group"> <input type="search" value name="s" id="terms" class="form-control" placeholder="Search"> <div class="input-group-btn">  <button type="submit" class="btn small" id="submit2"> <i class="fa fa-search"></i> </button> </div> </div> </form> </li> <li class="dropdown nav-search d-md-block"> <a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown" class="d-none d-md-flex flex-column justify-content-md-center dropdown-toggle h-100"><i class="fa fa-search"></i></a> <div class="nav-search-container dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-right"> <form id="searchnav" class="header-search" action="/" name="" method="get"> <input type="search" value name="s" class="form-control" placeholder="Search"> <button type="submit" class="btn small"> Submit </button> </form> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </header>  <div data-rocket-location-hash="48e213c400dd76c4726856c38296e779" class="wrap" role="document">  <div data-rocket-location-hash="6eab064e5002adda820655a4d2500628" class="content"> <main data-rocket-location-hash="ae251b7d4c88170516c8c9cc977ee81a" class="main full-wide-single"> <article class="container-fluid"> <header> <p id="breadcrumbs"><span><span><a href="https://reason.org/policy-areas/">Topics</a></span> › <span><a href="https://reason.org/topics/transportation/">Transportation</a></span></span></p> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20720%20405'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-lazy-srcset=" https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-650x365.jpg 650w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-750x422.jpg 750w" data-lazy-sizes="100vw, (min-width: 767px) 720px" width="720" height="405" style="width: 100%; height: auto;" alt="How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system" data-lazy-src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-650x365.jpg" /><noscript><img src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-650x365.jpg" srcset=" https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-650x365.jpg 650w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-systems-problems-and-solutions-750x422.jpg 750w" sizes="100vw, (min-width: 767px) 720px" width="720" height="405" style="width: 100%; height: auto;" alt="How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system" /></noscript> <div class="photo-credit clearfix"> <span style="color: #999; font-size: 10px; float: right;"> Photo 2308154 © Ivan Cholakov | Dreamstime.com </span> </div> <h3 class="post-type"> <a href="https://reason.org/policy-study/"> Policy Study </a> </h3> <h1 class="entry-title">How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system</h1> <h3 class="entry-subtitle">There's an $800 million backlog of current inland waterway system projects and another $6 billion worth of projects planned, but not yet started.</h3> <div class="authors"> <a href="https://reason.org/author/jay-derr/"> <div class="author-image"> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%200%200'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-lazy-src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/Jay.Derr_-150x150.jpeg"><noscript><img src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/Jay.Derr_-150x150.jpeg"></noscript> </div> <div class="author-info"> <div class="author-name"><span>Jay Derr</span></div> <div class="author-title">Transportation Policy Analyst</div> </div> </a> </div> <time class="published" datetime="2024-03-26T06:00:00-04:00">March 26, 2024</time> <div class="social-sharing"> <div class="social-network"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F" target="_blank" class="share-button facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook"></i></a></div> <div class="social-network"><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F&text=How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system&via=ReasonFdn" target="_blank" class="share-button twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a></div> <div class="social-network"><a href="mailto:?subject=How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system&body=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F" class="share-button email"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a></div> <div class="social-network"><a href="#" class="share-button print"><i class="fa fa-print"></i></a></div> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p><strong><a href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf">Introduction</a> </strong></p> <p>The inland waterway system serves as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method of transporting freight throughout the country. An insufficiently funded and maintained inland waterway system has led to a system plagued with breakdowns and unscheduled closures. Delays and scheduled closures for maintenance also plague lock and dam systems scattered throughout the inland waterway system, raising costs for producers, shippers, and consumers who rely on waterborne freight transportation.</p> <p>This instability has contributed to <a href="https://reason.org/commentary/users-not-taxpayers-should-pay-for-the-inland-waterways-system/">an ongoing trend</a> of decreasing waterborne commercial activity, especially on inland routes. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem further, leading to <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-97461-7">a greater decrease</a> in waterborne activity along the inland waterway system due to a sudden trough of demand. When instability (especially delays) plagues the system, shipping over the waterways becomes less cost-efficient, driving shippers to other modes as shown by lowered demand.</p> <p>Given the importance of the inland waterway system to supply chains across the country, it must be revitalized in a more cost-effective manner that doesn’t unduly burden general taxpayers. Currently, barge vessels pay a small lockage fee that covers a dwindling percentage of capital costs. However, taxpayers pay for 100% of the inland waterway system’s operations and maintenance costs, as well as an increasing share of new construction capital costs. Creating a sustainable revenue source will benefit the inland waterway system’s users and consumers as a whole. This move begins the process of shifting more of the burden to inland waterway users.</p> <p>Further, long-term infrastructure should be financed and not funded, because it stretches limited resources further. One potential financing option is public-private partnerships (P3s). In addition to stretching the funds, P3s transfer risks—specifically construction cost overruns, late completion, and operations as well as maintenance of the locks. </p> <p>By modernizing the inland waterway system through a new funding and financing mechanism, Congress could improve the efficiency and reliability of U.S. waterways.</p> <p><a href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf">This study</a> examines the various challenges affecting the inland waterway system, <a href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf">including</a>:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Operations expenditures,</li> <li>Maintenance expenditures,</li> <li>Shipping delays,</li> <li>Current inland waterway system funding methods,</li> <li>Innovative funding for new construction, operations, and maintenance, including lock usage fees, and,</li> <li>New financing mechanisms, specifically public-private partnerships (P3s).</li> </ul> <p><strong>Full Study—<a class="pdf-icon" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf">Inland Waterway System Funding: Problems and Solutions</a></strong></p> <div data-wp-interactive="core/file" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!state.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of <strong>Inland Waterway System Funding: Problems and Solutions</strong>."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-a01ae9f1-9c8e-4632-a0fa-ce32510cc2f8" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf"><strong>Inland Waterway System Funding: Problems and Solutions</strong></a><a href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/inland-waterway-system-funding-problems-and-solutions.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-a01ae9f1-9c8e-4632-a0fa-ce32510cc2f8">Download</a></div> </div> <footer class="article-footer"> <div class="author-footer"><div class="article-author"><p><span class="author-footer--author-name"><a href="https://reason.org/author/jay-derr/">Jay Derr</a></span> is a Transportation Policy Analyst at the Reason Foundation.</p> </div></div> <div class="social-sharing"> <div class="social-network"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F" target="_blank" class="share-button facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook"></i></a></div> <div class="social-network"><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F&text=How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system&via=ReasonFdn" target="_blank" class="share-button twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a></div> <div class="social-network"><a href="mailto:?subject=How to modernize and properly fund the inland waterway system&body=https%3A%2F%2Freason.org%2Fpolicy-study%2Fhow-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system%2F" class="share-button email"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a></div> <div class="social-network"><a href="#" class="share-button print"><i class="fa fa-print"></i></a></div> </div> <div class="related-posts"> <h4 class="moreheader">More from <a href="https://reason.org/topics/transportation/">Transportation</a></h4> <ul class="listingcontent row"> <li class="listingcontent listingcontent-narrow col-12"> <div class="listingcontent-image"> <a href="/aviation-policy-news/spirit-bankruptcy-space-launches-and-response-to-report-on-aging-faa-systems/"> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20351%20195'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-lazy-srcset="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_344559824-380x211.jpg 360w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_344559824-750x422.jpg 750w" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 767px) 238px, (min-width: 977px) 311px, (min-width: 1185px) 378px" alt="Aviation Policy News: Spirit bankruptcy, space launches and response to report on aging FAA systems" class="entry-image" width="351" height="195" style="width: 100%; height: auto;" data-lazy-src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_344559824-380x211.jpg"><noscript><img src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_344559824-380x211.jpg" srcset="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_344559824-380x211.jpg 360w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_344559824-750x422.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 767px) 238px, (min-width: 977px) 311px, (min-width: 1185px) 378px" alt="Aviation Policy News: Spirit bankruptcy, space launches and response to report on aging FAA systems" class="entry-image" width="351" height="195" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></noscript> </a> </div> <div class="listingcontent-body"> <h5 class="entry-title"> <a href="/aviation-policy-news/spirit-bankruptcy-space-launches-and-response-to-report-on-aging-faa-systems/" class="listingcontent-title"> Aviation Policy News: Spirit bankruptcy, space launches and response to report on aging FAA systems </a> </h5> <p class="entry-subhead"> Plus: Questions about Delta's wheelchair seat, space launch companies should pay for airspace use, and more. </p> <p class="entry-meta"> By <a href="https://reason.org/author/robert-poole/" title="Posts by Robert Poole" class="author url fn" rel="author">Robert Poole</a><br/> <time class="published" datetime="2024-11-21T10:00:15-05:00">November 21, 2024</time> </p> </div> </li> <li class="listingcontent listingcontent-narrow col-12"> <div class="listingcontent-image"> <a href="/transportation-news/fresh-thinking-for-industry-planners-and-vmt/"> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20351%20195'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-lazy-srcset="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_340889103-380x211.jpg 360w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_340889103-750x422.jpg 750w" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 767px) 238px, (min-width: 977px) 311px, (min-width: 1185px) 378px" alt="Surface Transportation News: Fresh thinking about vehicle miles of travel" class="entry-image" width="351" height="195" style="width: 100%; height: auto;" data-lazy-src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_340889103-380x211.jpg"><noscript><img src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_340889103-380x211.jpg" srcset="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_340889103-380x211.jpg 360w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_s_340889103-750x422.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 767px) 238px, (min-width: 977px) 311px, (min-width: 1185px) 378px" alt="Surface Transportation News: Fresh thinking about vehicle miles of travel" class="entry-image" width="351" height="195" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></noscript> </a> </div> <div class="listingcontent-body"> <h5 class="entry-title"> <a href="/transportation-news/fresh-thinking-for-industry-planners-and-vmt/" class="listingcontent-title"> Surface Transportation News: Fresh thinking about vehicle miles of travel </a> </h5> <p class="entry-subhead"> Plus: voters approved transportation funding across the country, asset concessions, mileage-based user fees, and more. </p> <p class="entry-meta"> By <a href="https://reason.org/author/robert-poole/" title="Posts by Robert Poole" class="author url fn" rel="author">Robert Poole</a><br/> <time class="published" datetime="2024-11-14T09:59:11-05:00">November 14, 2024</time> </p> </div> </li> <li class="listingcontent listingcontent-narrow col-12"> <div class="listingcontent-image"> <a href="/commentary/nasa-should-consider-switching-to-spacex-starship-for-future-missions/"> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20351%20195'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-lazy-srcset="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xxl_262419347-380x211.jpg 360w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xxl_262419347-750x422.jpg 750w" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 767px) 238px, (min-width: 977px) 311px, (min-width: 1185px) 378px" alt="NASA should consider switching to SpaceX Starship for future missions" class="entry-image" width="351" height="195" style="width: 100%; height: auto;" data-lazy-src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xxl_262419347-380x211.jpg"><noscript><img src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xxl_262419347-380x211.jpg" srcset="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xxl_262419347-380x211.jpg 360w, https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/dreamstime_xxl_262419347-750x422.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (min-width: 767px) 238px, (min-width: 977px) 311px, (min-width: 1185px) 378px" alt="NASA should consider switching to SpaceX Starship for future missions" class="entry-image" width="351" height="195" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></noscript> </a> </div> <div class="listingcontent-body"> <h5 class="entry-title"> <a href="/commentary/nasa-should-consider-switching-to-spacex-starship-for-future-missions/" class="listingcontent-title"> NASA should consider switching to SpaceX Starship for future missions </a> </h5> <p class="entry-subhead"> The reusability of Starship would be a key factor in reducing launch costs, making space more accessible and allowing for more frequent missions. </p> <p class="entry-meta"> By <a href="https://reason.org/author/jay-derr/" title="Posts by Jay Derr" class="author url fn" rel="author">Jay Derr</a><br/> <time class="published" datetime="2024-11-12T00:01:00-05:00">November 12, 2024</time> </p> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </footer> </article> </main>  </div>  </div>  <footer data-rocket-location-hash="32663b7250d2417c56c01b2c0a02304b" class="content-info" role="contentinfo"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-4"> <h4 class="bold-header">Follow</h4> <ul class="social-icons color round"> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ReasonFoundation/" class="social-icon facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook-square"></i>Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/ReasonFdn" class="social-icon twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter-square"></i>Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ReasonTV" class="social-icon youtube"><i class="fa fa-youtube"></i>YouTube</a></li> <li><a href="/feed/" class="social-icon rss"><i class="fa fa-rss-square"></i>RSS</a></li> </ul> <h4 class="bold-header">Email Updates</h4> <p>Get <a href="/subscribe-to-email-newsletters/">weekly updates</a> from Reason.</p> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <div class='gf_browser_ie gf_browser_ie7 gform_wrapper gravity-theme gform-theme--no-framework' data-form-theme='gravity-theme' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_7' ><div id='gf_7' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'></div> <div class='gform_heading'> <p class='gform_description'></p> </div><form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' target='gform_ajax_frame_7' id='gform_7' action='/policy-study/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system/#gf_7' data-formid='7' novalidate><div class='gf_invisible ginput_recaptchav3' data-sitekey='6LeMnkUaAAAAALL8T1-XAyB7vxpOeTExu6KwR48-' data-tabindex='0'><input id="input_989663f1c0a08d71a2dd9c6bc0bbc53e" class="gfield_recaptcha_response" type="hidden" name="input_989663f1c0a08d71a2dd9c6bc0bbc53e" value=""/></div> <div class='gform-body gform_body'><div id='gform_fields_7' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below validation_below'><div id="field_7_1" class="gfield gfield--type-email gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_7_1" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_7_1'>Email Address<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_text">(Required)</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'> <input name='input_1' id='input_7_1' type='email' value='' class='large' placeholder='e.g. jane@example.com' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></div><div id="field_7_3" class="gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--width-full gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_7_3" ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_3' id='input_7_3' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' aria-invalid="false" value='2' /></div></div><div id="field_7_4" class="gfield gfield--type-honeypot gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below gfield--has-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_7_4" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_7_4'>Comments</label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_4' id='input_7_4' type='text' value='' autocomplete='new-password'/></div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description_7_4'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.</div></div></div></div> <div class='gform-footer gform_footer top_label'> <input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_7' class='gform_button button' onclick='gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this)' value='Subscribe' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_ajax' value='form_id=7&title=&description=1&tabindex=0&theme=gravity-theme' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submission_method' data-js='gform_submission_method_7' value='iframe' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_7' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='7' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_7' value='WyJbXSIsImNjNGM2OTFlNTUwZWRhMzU1ZWRhNmQzMjljNGRhMzFiIl0=' /> <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_7' id='gform_target_page_number_7' value='0' /> <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_7' id='gform_source_page_number_7' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='newsletter=2' /> </div> </form> </div> <iframe style='display:none;width:0px;height:0px;' src='about:blank' name='gform_ajax_frame_7' id='gform_ajax_frame_7' title='This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.'></iframe> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 7, 'https://reason.org/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', true );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_7').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_7');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_7').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_7').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_7').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_7').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { /* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome */ jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gform_wrapper_7').offset().top - mt); }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_7').val();gformInitSpinner( 7, 'https://reason.org/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', true );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [7, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_7'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_7').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gf_7').offset().top - mt);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [7]);window['gf_submitting_7'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_7').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_7').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger("gform_pre_post_render", [{ formId: "7", currentPage: "current_page", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]); if (event && event.defaultPrevented) { return; } const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_wrapper_7" ); if ( gformWrapperDiv ) { const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( "span" ); visibilitySpan.id = "gform_visibility_test_7"; gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( "afterend", visibilitySpan ); } const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_visibility_test_7" ); let postRenderFired = false; function triggerPostRender() { if ( postRenderFired ) { return; } postRenderFired = true; jQuery( document ).trigger( 'gform_post_render', [7, current_page] ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/postRender', native: false, data: { formId: 7, currentPage: current_page } } ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/post_render', native: false, data: { formId: 7, currentPage: current_page } } ); if ( visibilityTestDiv ) { visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv ); } } function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) { var timeout; return function() { var context = this, args = arguments; var later = function() { timeout = null; if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args ); }; var callNow = immediate && !timeout; clearTimeout( timeout ); timeout = setTimeout( later, wait ); if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args ); }; } const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() { triggerPostRender(); }, 200 ); if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) { const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => { mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => { if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) { debouncedTriggerPostRender(); observer.disconnect(); } }); }); observer.observe( document.body, { attributes: true, childList: false, subtree: true, attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ], }); } else { triggerPostRender(); } } );} ); /* ]]> */ </script> </div> <div class="col-sm-4"> <h4 class="bold-header">More About Reason Foundation</h4> <ul> <li><a href="/about-reason-foundation/">About</a></li> <li><a href="/contact-reason-foundation/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/donate/">Donate</a></li> <li><a href="/subscribe-to-email-newsletters/">Email Newsletters</a></li> <li><a href="/events/">Events</a></li> <li><a href="/jobs/">Jobs and Internships</a></li> <li><a href="/policy-areas/">Policy Research</a></li> <li><a href="https://reason.com/covers/all">Reason magazine</a></li> <li><a href="https://shop.reason.com/" target="_blank">Shop</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-sm-4"> <h4 class="bold-header">Contact</h4> <p> <strong>Reason Foundation</strong><br/> 5737 Mesmer Ave.<br/> Los Angeles, CA 90230<br/> (310) 391-2245 </p> <p> 1630 Connecticut Ave NW<br> Suite 600<br/> Washington, DC 20009<br/> (202) 986-0916 </p> <p><a href="https://reason.com/privacy">Privacy Policy</a><br><a href="https://reason.com/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></p> </div> </div> <p><small>This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google <a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy"><strong>Privacy Policy</strong></a> and <a href="https://policies.google.com/terms"><strong>Terms of Service</strong></a> apply.</small></p> </div> <div data-rocket-location-hash="78e8d9ccf0b8542acf312418dae056a0" id="copyright" align="center"> <br/>  <br> Copyright © 2024 Reason Foundation </div> </footer> <script> ( function ( body ) { 'use strict'; body.className = body.className.replace( /\btribe-no-js\b/, 'tribe-js' ); } )( document.body ); </script> <script type="importmap" id="wp-importmap"> {"imports":{"@wordpress\/interactivity":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-includes\/js\/dist\/script-modules\/interactivity\/index.min.js?ver=06b8f695ef48ab2d9277"}} </script> <script type="module" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/dist/script-modules/block-library/file/view.min.js?ver=fdc2f6842e015af83140" id="@wordpress/block-library/file/view-js-module"></script> <link rel="modulepreload" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/dist/script-modules/interactivity/index.min.js?ver=06b8f695ef48ab2d9277" id="@wordpress/interactivity-js-modulepreload"><script> /* <![CDATA[ */var tribe_l10n_datatables = {"aria":{"sort_ascending":": activate to sort column ascending","sort_descending":": activate to sort column descending"},"length_menu":"Show _MENU_ entries","empty_table":"No data available in table","info":"Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ entries","info_empty":"Showing 0 to 0 of 0 entries","info_filtered":"(filtered from _MAX_ total entries)","zero_records":"No matching records found","search":"Search:","all_selected_text":"All items on this page were selected. ","select_all_link":"Select all pages","clear_selection":"Clear Selection.","pagination":{"all":"All","next":"Next","previous":"Previous"},"select":{"rows":{"0":"","_":": Selected %d rows","1":": Selected 1 row"}},"datepicker":{"dayNames":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"dayNamesShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"dayNamesMin":["S","M","T","W","T","F","S"],"monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesShort":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesMin":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"nextText":"Next","prevText":"Prev","currentText":"Today","closeText":"Done","today":"Today","clear":"Clear"}};/* ]]> */ </script><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gwreadonly/css/gwreadonly.css?ver=1.9.25"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/css/dist/basic.min.css?ver=2.9.0"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/css/dist/theme-components.min.css?ver=2.9.0"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/css/dist/theme.min.css?ver=2.9.0"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/wp-content/plugins/maropress/js/maropress-main.js?ver=240516-75157" id="maropress-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="rocket-browser-checker-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ "use strict";var _createClass=function(){function defineProperties(target,props){for(var i=0;i<props.length;i++){var descriptor=props[i];descriptor.enumerable=descriptor.enumerable||!1,descriptor.configurable=!0,"value"in descriptor&&(descriptor.writable=!0),Object.defineProperty(target,descriptor.key,descriptor)}}return function(Constructor,protoProps,staticProps){return protoProps&&defineProperties(Constructor.prototype,protoProps),staticProps&&defineProperties(Constructor,staticProps),Constructor}}();function _classCallCheck(instance,Constructor){if(!(instance instanceof Constructor))throw new TypeError("Cannot call a class as a function")}var RocketBrowserCompatibilityChecker=function(){function RocketBrowserCompatibilityChecker(options){_classCallCheck(this,RocketBrowserCompatibilityChecker),this.passiveSupported=!1,this._checkPassiveOption(this),this.options=!!this.passiveSupported&&options}return _createClass(RocketBrowserCompatibilityChecker,[{key:"_checkPassiveOption",value:function(self){try{var options={get passive(){return!(self.passiveSupported=!0)}};window.addEventListener("test",null,options),window.removeEventListener("test",null,options)}catch(err){self.passiveSupported=!1}}},{key:"initRequestIdleCallback",value:function(){!1 in window&&(window.requestIdleCallback=function(cb){var start=Date.now();return setTimeout(function(){cb({didTimeout:!1,timeRemaining:function(){return Math.max(0,50-(Date.now()-start))}})},1)}),!1 in window&&(window.cancelIdleCallback=function(id){return clearTimeout(id)})}},{key:"isDataSaverModeOn",value:function(){return"connection"in navigator&&!0===navigator.connection.saveData}},{key:"supportsLinkPrefetch",value:function(){var elem=document.createElement("link");return elem.relList&&elem.relList.supports&&elem.relList.supports("prefetch")&&window.IntersectionObserver&&"isIntersecting"in IntersectionObserverEntry.prototype}},{key:"isSlowConnection",value:function(){return"connection"in navigator&&"effectiveType"in navigator.connection&&("2g"===navigator.connection.effectiveType||"slow-2g"===navigator.connection.effectiveType)}}]),RocketBrowserCompatibilityChecker}(); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="rocket-preload-links-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var RocketPreloadLinksConfig = {"excludeUris":"\/(?:.+\/)?feed(?:\/(?:.+\/?)?)?$|\/(?:.+\/)?embed\/|\/(index.php\/)?(.*)wp-json(\/.*|$)|\/refer\/|\/go\/|\/recommend\/|\/recommends\/","usesTrailingSlash":"1","imageExt":"jpg|jpeg|gif|png|tiff|bmp|webp|avif|pdf|doc|docx|xls|xlsx|php","fileExt":"jpg|jpeg|gif|png|tiff|bmp|webp|avif|pdf|doc|docx|xls|xlsx|php|html|htm","siteUrl":"https:\/\/reason.org","onHoverDelay":"100","rateThrottle":"3"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="rocket-preload-links-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function() { "use strict";var r="function"==typeof Symbol&&"symbol"==typeof Symbol.iterator?function(e){return typeof e}:function(e){return e&&"function"==typeof Symbol&&e.constructor===Symbol&&e!==Symbol.prototype?"symbol":typeof e},e=function(){function i(e,t){for(var n=0;n<t.length;n++){var i=t[n];i.enumerable=i.enumerable||!1,i.configurable=!0,"value"in i&&(i.writable=!0),Object.defineProperty(e,i.key,i)}}return function(e,t,n){return t&&i(e.prototype,t),n&&i(e,n),e}}();function i(e,t){if(!(e instanceof t))throw new TypeError("Cannot call a class as a function")}var t=function(){function n(e,t){i(this,n),this.browser=e,this.config=t,this.options=this.browser.options,this.prefetched=new Set,this.eventTime=null,this.threshold=1111,this.numOnHover=0}return e(n,[{key:"init",value:function(){!this.browser.supportsLinkPrefetch()||this.browser.isDataSaverModeOn()||this.browser.isSlowConnection()||(this.regex={excludeUris:RegExp(this.config.excludeUris,"i"),images:RegExp(".("+this.config.imageExt+")$","i"),fileExt:RegExp(".("+this.config.fileExt+")$","i")},this._initListeners(this))}},{key:"_initListeners",value:function(e){-1<this.config.onHoverDelay&&document.addEventListener("mouseover",e.listener.bind(e),e.listenerOptions),document.addEventListener("mousedown",e.listener.bind(e),e.listenerOptions),document.addEventListener("touchstart",e.listener.bind(e),e.listenerOptions)}},{key:"listener",value:function(e){var t=e.target.closest("a"),n=this._prepareUrl(t);if(null!==n)switch(e.type){case"mousedown":case"touchstart":this._addPrefetchLink(n);break;case"mouseover":this._earlyPrefetch(t,n,"mouseout")}}},{key:"_earlyPrefetch",value:function(t,e,n){var i=this,r=setTimeout(function(){if(r=null,0===i.numOnHover)setTimeout(function(){return i.numOnHover=0},1e3);else if(i.numOnHover>i.config.rateThrottle)return;i.numOnHover++,i._addPrefetchLink(e)},this.config.onHoverDelay);t.addEventListener(n,function e(){t.removeEventListener(n,e,{passive:!0}),null!==r&&(clearTimeout(r),r=null)},{passive:!0})}},{key:"_addPrefetchLink",value:function(i){return this.prefetched.add(i.href),new Promise(function(e,t){var n=document.createElement("link");n.rel="prefetch",n.href=i.href,n.onload=e,n.onerror=t,document.head.appendChild(n)}).catch(function(){})}},{key:"_prepareUrl",value:function(e){if(null===e||"object"!==(void 0===e?"undefined":r(e))||!1 in e||-1===["http:","https:"].indexOf(e.protocol))return null;var t=e.href.substring(0,this.config.siteUrl.length),n=this._getPathname(e.href,t),i={original:e.href,protocol:e.protocol,origin:t,pathname:n,href:t+n};return this._isLinkOk(i)?i:null}},{key:"_getPathname",value:function(e,t){var n=t?e.substring(this.config.siteUrl.length):e;return n.startsWith("/")||(n="/"+n),this._shouldAddTrailingSlash(n)?n+"/":n}},{key:"_shouldAddTrailingSlash",value:function(e){return this.config.usesTrailingSlash&&!e.endsWith("/")&&!this.regex.fileExt.test(e)}},{key:"_isLinkOk",value:function(e){return null!==e&&"object"===(void 0===e?"undefined":r(e))&&(!this.prefetched.has(e.href)&&e.origin===this.config.siteUrl&&-1===e.href.indexOf("?")&&-1===e.href.indexOf("#")&&!this.regex.excludeUris.test(e.href)&&!this.regex.images.test(e.href))}}],[{key:"run",value:function(){"undefined"!=typeof RocketPreloadLinksConfig&&new n(new RocketBrowserCompatibilityChecker({capture:!0,passive:!0}),RocketPreloadLinksConfig).init()}}]),n}();t.run(); }()); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gforms_recaptcha_recaptcha-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gforms_recaptcha_recaptcha_strings = {"site_key":"6LeMnkUaAAAAALL8T1-XAyB7vxpOeTExu6KwR48-","ajaxurl":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"841650f3e0"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=6LeMnkUaAAAAALL8T1-XAyB7vxpOeTExu6KwR48-&ver=1.6.0" id="gforms_recaptcha_recaptcha-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gforms_recaptcha_recaptcha-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function($){grecaptcha.ready(function(){$('.grecaptcha-badge').css('visibility','hidden');});})(jQuery); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/menu.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-menu-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/wp-includes/js/dist/dom-ready.min.js?ver=f77871ff7694fffea381" id="wp-dom-ready-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js?ver=4d63a3d491d11ffd8ac6" id="wp-hooks-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=5e580eb46a90c2b997e6" id="wp-i18n-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-i18n-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/wp-includes/js/dist/a11y.min.js?ver=3156534cc54473497e14" id="wp-a11y-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/autocomplete.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-autocomplete-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="reason_scripts-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var rorg_ajax_obj = {"search_post_types":[{"value":"amicus-brief","name":"Amicus Briefs"},{"value":"privatization-report","name":"Annual Privatization Reports"},{"value":"aviation-policy-news","name":"Aviation Policy Newsletter"},{"value":"backgrounder","name":"Backgrounders"},{"value":"commentary","name":"Commentaries"},{"value":"data-visualization","name":"Data Visualizations"},{"value":"tribe_events","name":"Events"},{"value":"education-newsletter","name":"Funding Education Opportunity Newsletters"},{"value":"pension-newsletter","name":"Pension Reform Newsletters"},{"value":"policy-study","name":"Policy Studies"},{"value":"psychedlics-policy","name":"Psychedelics Policy Newsletter"},{"value":"voters-guide","name":"Voters' Guide"},{"value":"transportation-news","name":"Surface Transportation Innovations Newsletters"},{"value":"testimony","name":"Testimony"}],"policy_study_child_types":[{"value":"faq","name":"FAQs"},{"value":"how-to-guides","name":"How-to Guides"},{"value":"open-enrollment","name":"Open Enrollment by State"},{"value":"transparency-project","name":"Government Financial Transparency Project"},{"value":"k12-ed-spending","name":"K-12 Education Spending Spotlight"},{"value":"policy-brief","name":"Policy Briefs"},{"value":"working-paper","name":"Working Papers"},{"value":"solvency-analysis","name":"Solvency Analysis"},{"value":"backgrounder","name":"Backgrounders"}]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/themes/reason-dot-org-theme/dist/scripts/main_fde60bae.js?ver=6.7.1" id="reason_scripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/jquery.json.min.js?ver=2.9.0" id="gform_json-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gform_gravityforms-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gform_i18n = {"datepicker":{"days":{"monday":"Mo","tuesday":"Tu","wednesday":"We","thursday":"Th","friday":"Fr","saturday":"Sa","sunday":"Su"},"months":{"january":"January","february":"February","march":"March","april":"April","may":"May","june":"June","july":"July","august":"August","september":"September","october":"October","november":"November","december":"December"},"firstDay":0,"iconText":"Select date"}}; var gf_legacy_multi = []; var gform_gravityforms = {"strings":{"invalid_file_extension":"This type of file is not allowed. Must be one of the following:","delete_file":"Delete this file","in_progress":"in progress","file_exceeds_limit":"File exceeds size limit","illegal_extension":"This type of file is not allowed.","max_reached":"Maximum number of files reached","unknown_error":"There was a problem while saving the file on the server","currently_uploading":"Please wait for the uploading to complete","cancel":"Cancel","cancel_upload":"Cancel this upload","cancelled":"Cancelled"},"vars":{"images_url":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images"}}; var gf_global = {"gf_currency_config":{"name":"U.S. Dollar","symbol_left":"$","symbol_right":"","symbol_padding":"","thousand_separator":",","decimal_separator":".","decimals":2,"code":"USD"},"base_url":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms","number_formats":[],"spinnerUrl":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg","version_hash":"4e257d69689b2d79bc34994ae246b4dc","strings":{"newRowAdded":"New row added.","rowRemoved":"Row removed","formSaved":"The form has been saved. The content contains the link to return and complete the form."}}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/gravityforms.min.js?ver=2.9.0" id="gform_gravityforms-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/placeholders.jquery.min.js?ver=2.9.0" id="gform_placeholder-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/js/dist/utils.min.js?ver=f802885f3482236736b18b55abcdc360" id="gform_gravityforms_utils-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/js/dist/vendor-theme.min.js?ver=ddd2702ee024d421149a5e61416f1ff5" id="gform_gravityforms_theme_vendors-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gform_gravityforms_theme-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gform_theme_config = {"common":{"form":{"honeypot":{"version_hash":"4e257d69689b2d79bc34994ae246b4dc"},"ajax":{"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","ajax_submission_nonce":"1fd1595857","i18n":{"step_announcement":"Step %1$s of %2$s, %3$s","unknown_error":"There was an unknown error processing your request. Please try again."}}}},"hmr_dev":"","public_path":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/assets\/js\/dist\/","config_nonce":"f2bc7e1651"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/js/dist/scripts-theme.min.js?ver=c055226f9b8c432c9206edab9070263c" id="gform_gravityforms_theme-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-ajax-response-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var wpAjax = {"noPerm":"Sorry, you are not allowed to do that.","broken":"Something went wrong."}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-includes/js/wp-ajax-response.min.js?ver=6.7.1" id="wp-ajax-response-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gforms_google_analytics_frontend-js-before"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gforms_google_analytics_frontend_strings = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"2f7f0a64d5","logging_enabled":false,"logging_nonce":"c7210bfe1c","ua_tracker":""}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityformsgoogleanalytics/js/google-analytics.min.js?ver=2.3.0" id="gforms_google_analytics_frontend-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/gravityformsrecaptcha/js/frontend.min.js?ver=1.6.0" id="gforms_recaptcha_frontend-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() { jQuery(document).on('gform_post_render', function(event, formId, currentPage){if(formId == 7) {if(typeof Placeholders != 'undefined'){ Placeholders.enable(); }} } );jQuery(document).on('gform_post_conditional_logic', function(event, formId, fields, isInit){} ) } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {jQuery(document).trigger("gform_pre_post_render", [{ formId: "7", currentPage: "1", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]); if (event && event.defaultPrevented) { return; } const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_wrapper_7" ); if ( gformWrapperDiv ) { const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( "span" ); visibilitySpan.id = "gform_visibility_test_7"; gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( "afterend", visibilitySpan ); } const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_visibility_test_7" ); let postRenderFired = false; function triggerPostRender() { if ( postRenderFired ) { return; } postRenderFired = true; jQuery( document ).trigger( 'gform_post_render', [7, 1] ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/postRender', native: false, data: { formId: 7, currentPage: 1 } } ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/post_render', native: false, data: { formId: 7, currentPage: 1 } } ); if ( visibilityTestDiv ) { visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv ); } } function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) { var timeout; return function() { var context = this, args = arguments; var later = function() { timeout = null; if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args ); }; var callNow = immediate && !timeout; clearTimeout( timeout ); timeout = setTimeout( later, wait ); if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args ); }; } const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() { triggerPostRender(); }, 200 ); if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) { const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => { mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => { if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) { debouncedTriggerPostRender(); observer.disconnect(); } }); }); observer.observe( document.body, { attributes: true, childList: false, subtree: true, attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ], }); } else { triggerPostRender(); } } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script>window.lazyLoadOptions=[{elements_selector:"img[data-lazy-src],.rocket-lazyload",data_src:"lazy-src",data_srcset:"lazy-srcset",data_sizes:"lazy-sizes",class_loading:"lazyloading",class_loaded:"lazyloaded",threshold:300,callback_loaded:function(element){if(element.tagName==="IFRAME"&&element.dataset.rocketLazyload=="fitvidscompatible"){if(element.classList.contains("lazyloaded")){if(typeof window.jQuery!="undefined"){if(jQuery.fn.fitVids){jQuery(element).parent().fitVids()}}}}}},{elements_selector:".rocket-lazyload",data_src:"lazy-src",data_srcset:"lazy-srcset",data_sizes:"lazy-sizes",class_loading:"lazyloading",class_loaded:"lazyloaded",threshold:300,}];window.addEventListener('LazyLoad::Initialized',function(e){var lazyLoadInstance=e.detail.instance;if(window.MutationObserver){var observer=new MutationObserver(function(mutations){var image_count=0;var iframe_count=0;var rocketlazy_count=0;mutations.forEach(function(mutation){for(var i=0;i<mutation.addedNodes.length;i++){if(typeof mutation.addedNodes[i].getElementsByTagName!=='function'){continue} if(typeof mutation.addedNodes[i].getElementsByClassName!=='function'){continue} images=mutation.addedNodes[i].getElementsByTagName('img');is_image=mutation.addedNodes[i].tagName=="IMG";iframes=mutation.addedNodes[i].getElementsByTagName('iframe');is_iframe=mutation.addedNodes[i].tagName=="IFRAME";rocket_lazy=mutation.addedNodes[i].getElementsByClassName('rocket-lazyload');image_count+=images.length;iframe_count+=iframes.length;rocketlazy_count+=rocket_lazy.length;if(is_image){image_count+=1} if(is_iframe){iframe_count+=1}}});if(image_count>0||iframe_count>0||rocketlazy_count>0){lazyLoadInstance.update()}});var b=document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0];var config={childList:!0,subtree:!0};observer.observe(b,config)}},!1)</script><script data-no-minify="1" async src="https://a8d50b36.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/plugins/wp-rocket/assets/js/lazyload/17.8.3/lazyload.min.js"></script><div data-rocket-location-hash="e2acc92c4a66965e9a72caecdd95da86" id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function ( d, s, id ) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName( s )[0]; if ( d.getElementById( id ) ) return; js = d.createElement( s ); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9&appId=231085004075801"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore( js, fjs ); }( document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk' ));</script> <script>var rocket_beacon_data = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/reason.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"80035938de","url":"https:\/\/reason.org\/policy-study\/how-to-modernize-properly-fund-inland-waterway-system","is_mobile":false,"width_threshold":1600,"height_threshold":700,"delay":500,"debug":null,"status":{"atf":true,"lrc":true},"elements":"img, video, picture, p, main, div, li, svg, section, header, span","lrc_threshold":1800}</script><script data-name="wpr-wpr-beacon" src='https://reason.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-rocket/assets/js/wpr-beacon.min.js' async></script></body> </html>