-
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT
With rising concern about the nation’s anemic job numbers, infrastructure has emerged as a centerpiece of a number of proposed “jobs bills.” In a Hill op-ed, Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes point out that infrastructure is not necessarily a cure-all and outline the federal leadership and strategies necessary for successful investment in the way we move goods, people and power.
-
Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
The economic recession and contraction in the auto and manufacturing industries have had a significant impact on air travel trends in the Great Lakes region’s metropolitan areas, according to Robert Puentes, Adie Tomer and John Austin. The fall-off in air travel in the last ten years has been precipitous in the region, but a return to economic growth will challenge the most connected metropolitan areas.
-
Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer assess metropolitan air travel trends over the past two decades. They find that most travel is consolidated within a select group of 26 metropolitan areas, which contribute to the country’s highest volume corridors and produce the worst on-time performance. Their findings reveal serious implications for the country’s aviation infrastructure as passenger volumes are predicted to grow in the coming years.
-
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:16:15 GMT
While air travel has made the globe and the nation more accessible, simply flying from one state to the next is often fraught with delayed flights, runway congestion and a host of other problems. Robert Puentes, an author of a new report on air travel trends, says that their report findings can help policymakers address critical issues affecting the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
-
Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer argue that the largest federal highway program—Equity Bonus—should be apportioned to states based on proportionate contributions to the nation's general fund rather than the highway trust fund since more and more transportation dollars are coming from those general sources.
-
Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On July 14th, Robert Puentes addressed Senate and House staff on the Hill on the use of public private partnerships (PPPs) for surface transportation financing. In his remarks, Robert stressed that PPPs are only one of several means of addressing funding shortfalls, and reflected on the need for federal direction, describing the growing number of institutions abroad designed to fulfill functions including quality control, policy formulation, coordination, and promotion of PPPs.
-
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Federal gas taxes are drying up and the nation’s highway bill is set to expire this fall. In that context, Robert Puentes analyzes the House proposal to revamp U.S. transportation policy and the administration’s call for an 18 month delay to ensure “better investment decisions."
-
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes argues that a new federal interagency partnership, debuted before the Senate this week, could provide the federal leadership necessary for a unified vision of transportation, housing, and environmental policy designed to tackle our interrelated economic, energy, and climate challenges.
-
Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes discusses how President Obama’s FY 2010 budget holds the baseline on transportation infrastructure spending with slight increases at the modal agencies at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
-
Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Transit agencies across the United States are facing service cutbacks and fare increases in order to close their budget gaps. The largest, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is no exception. Robert Puentes and Emilia Istrate offer recommendations for closing the MTA’s budget gap.
-
Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT
According to Robert Puentes, transportation is an area that is crucial to both economic growth and environmental sustainability. The link between transportation and climate change is making it imperative that we find new ways to think about transportation policy, especially in our nation's metropolitan areas.
-
Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT
America’s national economic crisis is also a metropolitan crisis, because metropolitan areas are the true engines of the national economy. So it matters intensely how well the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) empowers metropolitan leaders to boost prosperity. This paper finds that although ARRA is limited in its support for creative metropolitan-area implementation, it delivers critical investments in what matters to metros and holds out significant opportunity for metropolitan empowerment and problem-solving.
-
Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Before a special session of the Senate Banking Committee, Robert Puentes discussed the coordination of transportation and housing policy and its role in developing livable communities. Among others things, he stressed the need for the federal government to assist states and metropolitan areas in one of their hardest tasks: transcending the stovepiping of disparate programs that remains a serious cause of undesirable development outcomes.
-
Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Robert Puentes examined the linkages between housing and transportation, calling for increased awareness of these connections and a federal policy that simultaneously promotes the economic vitality and environmental quality of metropolitan areas.
-
Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes discusses how President Obama’s FY 2010 budget marks a shift in transportation policy, especially in mass transit. One proposal to create and fund a National Infrastructure would provide financial assistance to qualified and innovative infrastructure projects—from road and rails to ports and pipes—that matter to the nation as a whole or to a group of multiple states.
-
Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
As the recent kerfuffle between Transportation Secretary LaHood and the White House spokesperson demonstrate, debate over transportation policy and funding is heating up fast. Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer suggest that, while that flap was about taxing miles traveled instead of, or in addition to, gasoline consumed, the comments provide a window into the long simmering quandary over how we move the nation.
-
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT
A historic fiscal experiment in this country will evolve in the weeks, months and years ahead as a $790 billion stimulus package is spent to revive America’s economy. Metropolitan Policy Program experts suggest how this money might be strategically deployed to invigorate our nation’s metropolitan areas, the sources of national prosperity.
-
Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Bruce Katz and Rob Puentes argue that President-elect Obama must connect infrastructure spending to broad national goals such as creating new jobs, training a new work force and connecting people to work.
-
Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Nevada, Idaho and Colorado lead the way in ending car dependence, according to a first-ever ranking, as do the metro areas around Austin, Indianapolis and Atlanta. A new Brookings report by Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer shows that other modes of transit grow in popularity, even as gas prices drop, suggesting a need for dramatic shifts in the way we fund transportation, build our communities and address greenhouse gas emissions.
-
Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Today’s fiscally-constrained environment demands a new approach to infrastructure policy both for short-term stimulus and long-term prosperity. In this backgrounder, Robert Puentes outlines a strategic infrastructure investment path to upgrade our existing system, expand choices in moving people and goods and move us closer to energy independence.
-
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:16:50 GMT
The Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution recently launched an ambitious, multi-year initiative to promote the health and vitality of America's urban clusters. In these presentations, Bruce Katz and Rob Puentes present policy ideas for improving the federal partnership with states and cities.
-
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT
A transportation survey conducted to better understand how commuting enhances both physical and economic mobility for a worker, this survey also assesses a workers' ability to find and retain employment.
-
Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
In a piece for the Buffalo News, Rob Puentes illustrates how the federal transportation policies have ignored industrial metropolitan areas like Buffalo or have undermined them directly.
-
Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Writing in the Politico, Robert Puentes argues that the dust-up over rail to Dulles airport is not a unique disease, but rather a symptom of a much larger national transportation illness.
-
Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Southeastern Virginia is currently experiencing a range of housing challenges that stem from three main problems: price, production, and location. This piece by Robert Puentes illustrates the importance of developing a metropolitan-wide strategy to deal with these issues.
-
Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Debate on the nation’s transportation policy focuses narrowly on new revenues needed to bolster the federal program. In recent testimony before the House Budget Committee, Fellow Robert Puentes argues that we should start with a clearer articulation of the goals, objectives and desired outcomes.
-
Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT
As part of the plenary session at the Inaugural William O. Lipinski Symposium on Transportation Policy in Chicago, 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 framework for a new transportation agenda.
-
Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Current conversations around finance and revenue distribution dominate the discussion about transportation in the United States today. These concerns are so prevalent today that they spawned not one – but two – national commissions to investigate how the nation should approach the issue of funding transportation over the long term.
-
Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT
In the wake of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, President Bush shot down a suggestion that the federal government increase the gas tax to raise more money for transportation.
-
Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes' presentation as part of Asheville, North Carolina's Downtown Association Speaker Series provided an overview of broad trends affecting growth and development in metropolitan areas nationwide, highlighted the effect of these trends on Asheville's quality of place, and discussed the building blocks for strong cities and healthy metros.
-
Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT
While infrastructure is an essential foundation for a healthy economy, decisions about where and how these investments are made are rarely tied to regional economic objectives. In this presentation as part of Portland Metro?s Economic Development Spe
-
Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Before a summit in Western Michigan, Robert Puentes focused on the tie between physical growth and economic growth and specifically how the region can significantly tie together smarter development patterns and the infrastructure to support them.
-
Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation Robert Puentes provides a deeper understanding of trends that are impacting metropolitan America and how those trends may impact the demand for multi-family housing in the coming decades.
-
Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT
In his Capitol Hill Briefing, Robert Puentes argues that often the biggest challenge for older cities and close-in suburbs is not a lack of affordable housing but a need to grow, hold, and attract middle-income households and to foster mixed-income n
-
Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Commercial interests and smart investors are turning their eyes toward some of our nation's most prominent roadways. Private companies, syndicates, and their advisors are putting up billions of dollars banking on steady, ever increasing toll revenues
-
Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT
In this keynote presentation at the Lehigh Valley Transportation Forum, Robert Puentes discusses the potential benefits that accrue to communities that pursue effective and efficient rail transportation. But rather than focusing on congestion relief,
-
Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation to the Eno Transportation Foundation, Robert Puentes discusses how to best respond to the rapid demographic change currently underway and how to accommodate the growth and development forecasted for this nation over the next seve
-
Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation at the Virginia Governor's Housing Conference in Norfolk, Robert Puentes highlights the state's critical housing issues, and discusses how these housing issues linked to other statewide priorities.
-
Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation at Rail-Volution, a conference dedicated to building livable communities, Robert Puentes discusses the latest demographic trends that are affecting the health and vitality of cities and first suburbs.
-
Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In his presentation at Braddock Tomorrow, Robert Puentes discusses emerging trends in metropolitan areas nationwide and how these trends are presenting new opportunities for older, established suburbs.
-
Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation at the first-ever gathering of older, inner-ring ""first"" suburban mayors and municipal leaders in New Jersey, Robert Puentes outlines some recent trends in first suburbs and options for coalition building.
-
Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT
report
-
Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT
During the annual meeting of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Bruce Katz provided the opening plenary address with a speech co-authored by Robert Puentes.
-
Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this detailed powerpoint presentation, Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes argue that New Jersey is in an enviable economic position in many respects.
-
Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation at the American Planning Association's Annual Meeting in San Antonio Texas, Robert Puentes discusses the challenges of older, inner-ring "first" suburbs.
-
Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT
This powerpoint by Robert Puentes tracks changes over time in America's older, inner-ring "first" suburbs. The presentation, which accompanies the release of a Brookings report on first suburbs, highlights important indicators in order to test the hypothesis that these places look quite different than they did fifty years ago, and reinforces the point that the term "suburbs" is not sufficient to describe the wide range of experiences in the places outside of center cities.
-
Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Neither fully urban nor completely suburban, America's older, inner-ring, "first" suburbs have a set of challenges very different from those of the center city and fast growing newer places. Robert Puentes and David Warren define first suburbs throughout the nation, examine their similarities and differences and set out a policy agenda tailored specifically to these distinctive places.
-
Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT
In this speech to the Transportation Research Board, Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes lay out an agenda for transportation policy going forward that focuses principally on enhancing the economic prosperity of people and places.
-
Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Federal and state policies make highways easy to build and relegate transit and other alternatives to second-class status.
-
Mon, 26 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT
-
Thu, 28 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Testimony by Robert Puentes before the House Committee on Government Reform.
-
Sat, 14 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT
The nation faces too many transportation challenges for Congress to remain asleep in its pursuit of a policy without purpose.
-
Thu, 28 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT
In this presentation at Northwestern University's Transportation Seminar, Robert Puentes discussed the context of the current debate around the nation's surface transportation law.
-
Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Authors Robert Puentes and Dave Warren examine Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds, an increasingly popular method of financing highway and transit infrastructure by pledging debt against future federal transportation grants.
-
Wed, 23 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT
This powerpoint by Robert Puentes was presented at a summit of mayors, city council members and city managers from older, inner-ring (or ""first"") suburbs around Dayton, OH.
-
Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT
This presentation by Robert Puentes to Chicago Metropolis 2020 and the Civic Federation explains the national conversation around transportation finance. Mr. Puentes provides context for the current debate and discusses activities currently underway
-
Fri, 03 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This powerpoint outlines the complex series of relationships that define federal, state, and local roles in financing transportation systems.
-
Fri, 10 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This powerpoint by Robert Puentes was presented at a summit in Grand Rapids, MI focusing on how that region can meet the economic development goals of West Michigan by fostering regional cooperation, collaboration, and communication.
-
Mon, 16 Aug 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This presentation by Robert Puentes argues that more compact development patterns and investments that strengthen urban centers, should save taxpayers' money and improve the economic performance of metropolitan regions.
-
Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes calls on the region to strengthen the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's unusually frail financing structure.
-
Thu, 03 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This presentation by Robert Puentes examines the unusual financial structure of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and argues that the agency's serious budgetary challenges owe in large part to its problematic revenue base.
-
Tue, 01 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's extraordinary lack of dedicated finding sources makes the agency vulnerable to recurrent financial crises, according to a new brief by Robert Puentes.
-
Mon, 10 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT
Congress needs to get beyond arguments about the money and fundamentally reform the nation's dysfunctional transportation system.
-
Thu, 11 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This testimony by Robert Puentes, given at a Congressional Black Caucus hearing on reauthorization of the federal transportation law, TEA-21, argues that current funding programs do not benefit all populations equally.
-
Mon, 08 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This presentation to the National League of Cities First Tier Suburbs Council presents options for how older, inner ring suburbs can build coalitions with center cities, rural areas and other suburbs to address issues of mutual concern.
-
Sat, 06 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT
Presentation to the National League of Cities
-
Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT
This paper concludes, using a review of the best academic evidence, that more compact development patterns and reinvestment in urban centers can save taxpayers money and improve regional economies.
-
Mon, 09 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT
Robert Puentes testifies on transit funding in the Washington region
-
Mon, 01 Dec 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Despite a number of reforms in the past decade, federal rules remain stacked against transit, and funding highway projects is far easier, this study shows.
-
Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Keynote Address to the Virginia Municipal League
-
Wed, 01 Oct 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Renewed transportation funding needs to expand metropolitan area control to fulfill the promises of previous reform efforts and to maintain a transportation system that works for the 21st century.
-
Mon, 28 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Presentation to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
-
Fri, 25 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Presentation to the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association
-
Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT
This brief details the importance of TEA-21 reauthorization for the nation's metro areas and offers a comprehensive policy agenda for Congress' work on the bill.
-
Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT
This report examines the geographic tilt of state transportation spending in Ohio between 1980 and 1998. It finds that spending places a disproortionate fiscal burden on urban jurisdictions while supporting the spread of development into exurban and ru
-
Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT
This survey describes the history, yield, and sometimes slanted state use of taxes on motor fuels - the ""gas tax."" It urges reforming the tax before hiking it.
-
Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT
This paper probes the definition and use of Dillon's rule and finds that it neither prohibits nor hinders action to limit sprawl.
-
Mon, 01 Apr 2002 00:00:00 GMT
This report finds that most federal and state policies overlook the needs of first suburbs and calls for much-needed reforms to help strengthen the health of first suburbs before they become the next ring of decline
-
Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT
In response to increasing congestion and decreasing safety, the U.S. has invested billions in smart transportation technologies. This essay examines the public and private sectors' role in this revolution and its impact on transportation policy.
-
Mon, 01 May 2000 00:00:00 GMT
flexible funding This survey examines the extent to which states are transferring funds from traditional highway programs to transit projects and what the ""flexing"" trends portend about the implementation of alternative transportation plans.
-
Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 GMT
As they grow and change, the nation's first suburbs show signs of stress ahead.