Bill Overview
Title: Defense Access Roads Improvement Act
Description: This bill updates provisions and requirements related to defense access roads, including by requiring the Department of Defense to establish a formal mechanism under which a state, county, or municipality may petition to certify roads as defense access roads.
Sponsors: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Target Audience
Population: People living in areas with close proximity to military bases or installations worldwide
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The Defense Access Roads Program is part of the US Department of Defense to grant funds for public highway improvements for roads that serve defense facilities.
- The program affects communities located near military bases, installations, or other defense-related facilities.
- Improvements might lead to changes in traffic patterns, noise, land use, and economic activity nearby.
- The overall national defense strategy benefits from improved logistics and movement capabilities.
Reasoning
- The budget for the Defense Access Roads Improvement Act suggests a moderate impact on affected communities, as funds are limited relative to the large number of military installations across the country.
- Many people near military bases may experience changes in traffic, land values, noise levels, and local economic activity, which influences their wellbeing scores.
- The improvements could enhance feelings of security and economic opportunity, impacting Cantril wellbeing positively for those directly benefiting.
- The policy will not affect everyone equally; those in isolated or less developed areas might see the biggest changes.
- A significant portion of the population lives near military bases, enhancing the relevance of simulating different personas based on varying levels of proximity and military dependence.
Simulated Interviews
Retail store manager (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The traffic congestion has been a real headache, especially during rush hours.
- Improved roads would make my daily commute much better and save a lot of time.
- I think better roads would also attract more business to our area.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Logistics coordinator (San Diego, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The roads can be quite a bottleneck for our transport logistics.
- Better roads will improve efficiency and reduce my stress about getting things in and out of the base timely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Local government worker (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Upgrading infrastructure will support our long-term development plans.
- The community stands to benefit economically from improved access routes, promoting regional growth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired military (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Currently, accessing base services takes a while due to road conditions.
- Improved roads would enhance the convenience of accessing veteran services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Restaurant owner (Killeen, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better access via improved roads could bring more foot traffic from the base.
- Economic activity might surge with better infrastructure, benefiting local businesses like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College student (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better roads would mean easier commutes for both school and work.
- It can make visits to family working at the base much more frequent and less stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Truck driver (Cheyenne, WY)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Current road conditions affect my delivery schedule and sometimes my pay too.
- Better roads would enhance safety and timeliness, directly impacting my work efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired teacher (Honolulu, HI)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our area feels quite connected to the local base, being improved could be good for all.
- Anything that integrates and uplifts the community is beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software engineer (Fort Hood, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Personally, the roads aren't much of an issue for me, but community growth could benefit.
- This policy could improve community infrastructure, making the tech industry here more appealing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Base personnel (Fayetteville, NC)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An improvement might shave off a lot of time from my daily commute.
- Better road conditions are essential for the efficiency of our operational flow.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $41000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $52020000 (Low: $41616000, High: $62424000)
Year 5: $53060000 (Low: $42448000, High: $63672000)
Year 10: $55367000 (Low: $44293600, High: $66440400)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of road improvements is contingent upon successful project management and coordination between the Department of Defense and local governments.
- Cost overruns are possible if unforeseen issues arise during the improvement projects, such as land acquisition disputes or environmental regulation challenges.
- The policy will primarily benefit regions around military installations, with indirect effects on national defense logistics.