RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer, March 03, 2011, The Avenue, The New Republic
Despite a growing population and high levels in the country’s driving patterns, the per capita driving rate remains relatively stagnant. Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer note that there are many reasons for this trend, but urge leaders to create policies reflecting the nation’s fundamental changes in driving habits. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matthew E. Kahn and David M. Levinson, February 2011, The Hamilton Project
Matthew Kahn and David Levinson propose a reorganization of our national highway infrastructure priorities to preserve, maintain and enhance existing infrastructure and the creation of the Federal Highway Bank to meet these goals. Read More
BOOK
Clifford Winston, September 14, 2010
In Last Exit, Clifford Winston reminds us that transportation services and infrastructure in the United States were originally introduced by private firms. The case for subsequent public ownership and management of the system was weak, in his view, and here he assesses the case for privatization and deregulation to greatly improve Americans’ satisfaction with their transportation systems.
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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, August 19, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic
Robert Puentes examines the consequences of the delay in the reauthorization of the federal transportation law and what it means for the future of the nation’s transportation program. Puentes argues that the program should be reformed so that purposeful investments are made. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, May 13, 2010, House Committee on Ways and Means
In this testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee, Robert Puentes argues that a merit-driven national infrastructure bank could be the vehicle for green-lighting those infrastructure projects that have the highest return on investment rather than the greatest political reward. He argues that the most critical question to answer now is the governance structure of such an entity and its relationship to existing programs. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, April 07, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic
Revenues generated from tolls on interstate highways are generally used to pay off construction costs and cover the roads’ upkeep. However, should state and municipal leaders be able to use these funds for other transportation projects? Robert Puentes calls for a change in the Department of Transportation’s law on toll revenues and a chance for sweeping modifications in systems across the United States. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Andrew Reamer, March 15, 2010, The Brookings Institution
As Americans begin receiving forms for the 2010 Census, Andrew Reamer emphasizes the importance of the count in determining federal funds for communities across the country. His report, Counting for Dollars: The Role of the Decennial Census in the Distribution of Federal Funds, provides data on the allocation of federal assistance dollars for states, counties and metropolitan areas. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, February 26, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic
With the federal surface transportation program set to expire at the end of February, Robert Puentes explores the implications of deeper problems with American infrastructure. Even if an extension of the program is implemented, calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s outdated infrastructure may continue to go unheeded. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, February 22, 2010, The Brookings Institution
On the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill, Rob Puentes explores the unequal distribution of funds allocated for transportation projects and the effects on the country’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, February 2010, The Brookings Institution
The new governors that recently took office in Virginia and New Jersey are facing looming budget shortfalls in funding for transportation. Rob Puentes explores various options, including increases in gas taxes and toll fares, and gauges the potential effects for both states. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, February 04, 2010, The Brookings Institution
When it comes to infrastructure, President Obama faces a tricky balancing act. On one side he needs to invest in the kind of infrastructure that the nation needs to remain competitive and put us on the path to a low-carbon future. On the other he has to operate in a constrained fiscal environment with programs that are in fundamental need of reform. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Adie Tomer, Robert Puentes and John C. Austin, October 08, 2009, The Brookings Institution
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. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer, October 08, 2009, The Brookings Institution
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. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Emilia Istrate, September 16, 2009, The Institute of Brazilian Issues, the George Washington University
At the Institute of Brazilian Issues at the George Washington University, Emilia Istrate spoke with a group of Brazilian development experts on the infrastructure needs of a metropolitan area, from a U.S. perspective. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Emilia Istrate, July 28, 2009, Government Research Association Annual Conference
At the annual conference of the Government Research Association in Washington, DC, Emilia Istrate spoke about the current transportation reauthorization debate from a metropolitan perspective. Read More