I think the headline for this article is unfortunate. The article didn't focus on answering the headline in the way most readers will expect, but those who have read more of Chuck Marohn's writing probably won't expect it to. It's really about "Why Does Infrastructure Cost So Much?" being a common concern but missing the point. He points out that bad development patterns and misguided regulations lead to roads that aren't economically productive enough to pay for their own maintenance, and that reducing the actual construction costs isn't going to change that paradigm. This probably shouldn't be the first article anyone reads on strong towns, as it jumps to conclusions that are justified in earlier writings.