A half-lay take on South Dakota v. Dole (1987)

My favorite Supreme Court case teaches us that the point of roads is control of the mechanisms that control the roads. USDOT can use this to compel states to do better.

Image: Oyez (source)

I’m writing about South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203 (1987) as someone who has never trained in interpreting the law, but as someone who’s trained extensively in transportation. As I’ve developed my opinions and thoughts (right here!), I’ve come to understand that try as planners do, they’re ultimately at the bottom of the power ring…