RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Katz and R.T. Rybak, July 31, 2008, The Brookings Institution
The replacement for the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed one year ago is nearing completion. But, argue Bruce Katz and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, the calls for reinvestment in transportation infrastructure have not been heeded. As outlined by the Metropolitan Policy Program, the federal government needs to systematically identify, map and prioritize the nation-shaping projects that require federal investment, breaking radically from our current practices. It shouldn’t take another bridge collapse to teach us. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, June 12, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Robert Puentes calls on the federal government to empower major metropolitan areas by giving them direct transportation funding and the flexibility to make unbiased decisions between different modes of transportation. The federal government can then maximize performance by committing itself (and the recipients of federal funds) to an evidence-based, outcome driven, and benchmarked way of doing business. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Katz, Christopher Geissler and Robert Puentes, January 2008, The Brookings Institution
America’s bridges, roads, rails and web of channel communications form the connective tissue that we call infrastructure. When these underpinnings start to crumble, so does the economic competitiveness of the nation. The third Bernard L. Schwartz Forum on Competitiveness explored the challenges and opportunities for new infrastructure investment. Read More
AUDIO
June 12, 2008
This session explored a new plan to overhaul U.S. transportation policy to meet the needs of the 21st century economy. This included a discussion of the key economic, environmental challenges facing metro areas, the flaws in the current federal policy response and recommendations for a new, unified, and competitive vision for federal transportation policy.
VIDEO
Mary Peters, Robert Puentes, Clifford Winston and Jason Bordoff, April 28, 2008
The nation’s transportation network is critical to America's commerce and our way of life. Population shifts, congestion and infrastructure all challenge its efficiency. The Brookings Institution’s Opportunity 08 project examined the issue of transportation in America in a forum featuring U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and a panel of Brookings experts.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, April 09, 2008, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
During this time of economic uncertainty, environmental anxiety and household stress the nation must get the most out of its largest discretionary domestic program—transportation. In recent testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Robert Puentes recommends the federal government adopt a three-pronged strategy to lead in certain areas, empower states and metropolitan areas in others and maximize performance across the nation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, February 05, 2008, The Brookings Institution
As part of this session at the National Association of Regional Councils annual meeting in Washington, DC, Robert Puentes discusses urgency of transportation accessibility, connectivity, and mobility issues that affecting the prosperity and vitality of the nation and its metropolitan areas. He highlights several critical flaws in current U.S. transportation policy today and offers a broad three-part framework for a new transportation agenda. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert W. Crandall and Clifford Winston, November 27, 2008, The Wall Street Journal
Robert Crandall and Clifford Winston discuss a proposal for automakers they think will cost taxpayers less and, in the long run, be more beneficial to labor and the overall economy than either a straight bailout or bankruptcy. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, November 13, 2008, The New Republic
In this opinion piece published in the New Republic, Robert Puentes argues that President-elect Obama has a tremendous opportunity to connect infrastructure spending to broad national goals (such as economic competitiveness and environmental sustaianability). In this way the federal stimulus dollars can accelerate the right kind of projects in the right places, creating jobs and waking up related areas of the economy. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, October 02, 2008, The Basic Industries Group
In this presentation Robert Puentes provides a deeper understanding of the range of demographic and market forces which effect American infrastructure and investment opportunities and possibilities therein. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, September 15, 2008, New York State Commission on MTA Financing
In this testimony, Robert Puentes argues that congestion pricing holds the most promise for securing the financial future of New York City and its transit agency over the next several years. A recent proposal to charge drivers that enter a "congestion zone" in Manhattan was slated to raise more than a half million dollars annually for transit. The current funding challenges are bolstering the case for revisiting that proposal. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, September 11, 2008, Women’s Transportation Policy Seminar
In this presentation Robert Puentes provides a deeper understanding of trends that are impacting metropolitan America and how those trends may impact the transportation demand and service in the coming decades. The presentation stresses several key points including dramatic changes in household formation, the increasing diversity reflected in both cities and suburban areas, and the key spatial effects on the American landscape. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, September 09, 2008, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
In Senate testimony, Robert Puentes argues that America's transportation system is "no longer aligned with the way we live or work, nor with the major economic, energy and environmental challenges facing the country." He outlines how federal policies for public transit can reduce dependence on foreign oil, encourage energy sustainability and promote economic efficiency. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, August 26, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Robert Puentes presents the presidential candidates' positions on transportation issues, including federal transportation financing, telecommuting and public transit. This chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 presidential election cycle. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Jason E. Bordoff and Pascal J. Noel, July 29, 2008, The Hartford Courant
There is little lawmakers can do in the short run to reduce prices at the pump, argue Jason Bordoff and Pascal Noel. What if there were a way to lower the cost of driving while still encouraging people to drive less and use less oil? The authors examine how pay-as-you-drive auto insurance supports this goal. Read More