Monday February 13, 2012

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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Private Sector Can Improve Infrastructure with Privatization not a Bank

Clifford Winston, September 29, 2010, e21

While the Obama administration's proposal to create a national infrastructure bank is growing in popularity as a way to improve infrastructure and create jobs, Clifford Winston argues for an alternative solution: privatization of infrastructure. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioA Possible Turnback of the U.S. Transportation Program to the States

Robert Puentes, August 19, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic

A Possible Turnback of the U.S. Transportation Program to the StatesRobert 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

VIDEO

Save to My Portfolio@ Brookings Podcast: High-speed Rail in the United States

Robert Puentes, August 06, 2010

The U.S. lags far behind Europe and Asia in the development of high-speed rail. This week @Brookings, expert Robert Puentes examines the Obama administration’s effort to build high-speed rail networks.

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioCreating Banks for Transportation Infrastructure

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

Save to My PortfolioMandates for Tolls on Interstate Highways Are Outdated

Robert Puentes, April 07, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic

Mandates for Tolls on Interstate Highways Are OutdatedRevenues 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

Save to My PortfolioState and Local Governments are Oversubscribing to Innovative Stimulus Programs

Bruce Katz and Mark Muro, March 24, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic

State and Local Governments are Oversubscribing to Innovative Stimulus ProgramsStimulus legislation has managed to advance the creation of numerous programs, many of which offer innovative approaches to issues many communities face. And according to a new assessment, the more novel programs have now been oversubscribed by state and local governments. Bruce Katz and Mark Muro examine the reasons behind the demand and how Congress should deal with it. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFederal Surface Transportation Program Faces Shutdown

Robert Puentes, February 26, 2010, The Avenue, The New Republic

Highway Traffic in Bay Area Due to BART StrikeWith 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

Save to My PortfolioTIGER’s Tale and Lessons for Stimulus Spending

Robert Puentes, February 22, 2010, The Brookings Institution

TIGER’s Tale and Lessons for Stimulus SpendingOn 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

Save to My PortfolioBudget 2011: Investing in Infrastructure

Robert Puentes, February 04, 2010, The Brookings Institution

Budget 2011: Investing in InfrastructureWhen 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

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioCities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around

Tuesday, December 08, 2009
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Brendan McDermidOn December 8, Brookings and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) brought together civic and business leaders, policymakers, and administration officials for a conversation about practical and imaginative ways to promote alternative forms of transportation. The event launched Cities for Cycling, a NACTO project to break down barriers to bicycle-friendly street design in municipalities around the United States. Read More

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioExpect Delays: An Analysis of Air Travel Trends in the United States

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

VIDEO

Save to My PortfolioAir Travel Congestion in the United States

Robert Puentes, October 07, 2009

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.

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNo Title

Emilia Istrate

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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNational Surface Transportation Legislation: a Metropolitan Outlook

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

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Other Highway Funding Crisis

Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer, July 17, 2009, The Vine, The New Republic

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. Read More

In Brief

The Department of Transportation provides “fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation systems that meet our vital national interests and enhance the quality of life of the American people.” The strategic goals of the department are to increase safety, reduce congestion, promote economic growth, promote environmentally friendly transportation systems and be prepared to respond to emergencies.

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State of Metropolitan AmericaMetropolitan Policy ProgramState of Metropolitan America

Foreshadowing 2010 Census results, this new Brookings report and interactive map defines who Americans are—and who they are becoming—in the face of continued growth, population aging and diversification, uneven educational attainment and income polarization.

Center for Technology InnovationPolicy CenterCenter for Technology Innovation

The Center for Technology Innovation is at the forefront of shaping public debate on technology innovation and developing data-driven scholarship to enhance understanding of technology’s legal, economic, social, and governance ramifications.

Darrell M. WestExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is vice president and director of Governance Studies and founding director of the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings. His studies include technology policy, electronic government, and mass media.

Energy and ClimateTopicEnergy and Climate

What will it take to mitigate severe climate disruption? What should our priorities be in the relationship between fresh water and climate change? What will it take to help vulnerable countries and regions adapt to change already taking place?

Global ChangeTopicGlobal Change

How do we develop more realistic approaches and more effective means of ending intractable old conflicts and preventing new ones? How do we enhance measures to thwart nonstate actors—especially terrorists and illicit traffickers—and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons?

Growth through InnovationTopicGrowth through Innovation

What new practices and mechanisms will help prevent another economic downturn from turning into a financial panic that could become a truly global meltdown? What changes in the public and private sectors will build the workforce and infrastructure required for a global information-based economy?

Opportunity and Well-beingTopicOpportunity and Well-being

As they weather the current economic storm, will our governments and societies address the basic needs and aspirations of the least well-off? How can we better use education to raise individual aspirations? How should governments around the world accelerate preparations to provide social services for the billions moving from poverty into the middle class?

John L. Thornton China CenterPolicy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

Robert KaganExpertRobert Kagan

Robert Kagan is an expert and frequent commentator on Egypt, the Middle East, U.S. national security, and U.S.-European relations. He writes a monthly column on world affairs for the Washington Post and is a contributing editor at the Weekly Standard and the New Republic.

Daniel KaufmannExpertDaniel Kaufmann

Daniel Kaufmann was previously the director at the World Bank Institute, leading the work on governance and anti-corruption. His areas of expertise are public sector and regulatory reform, development, governance and anti-corruption.

Mwangi S. KimenyiExpertMwangi S. Kimenyi

Mwangi S. Kimenyi is senior fellow and director of the Africa Growth Initiative. The founding executive director of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (1999-2005), he focuses on Africa's development including institutions for economic growth, political economy, and private sector development.

Donald KohnExpertDonald Kohn

Donald Kohn is a 40-year veteran of the Federal Reserve System and served as vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2010. He was recently appointed by the government of the United Kingdom and the Bank of England to serve on its interim Financial Policy Committee. Kohn focuses on issues of monetary policy, financial regulation and macroeconomics.

Brookings Mobile ApplicationsNEW FEATUREBrookings Mobile Applications

Stay up-to-date with our independent, high-quality research, learn about Brookings events and search our directory of experts all from your BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone or Android device.

Shadi HamidExpertShadi Hamid

Shadi Hamid focuses on Islamist political parties and democratic reform in the Middle East. Prior to joining Brookings, he was Director of Research at the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and a Hewlett Fellow at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.

Katherine SierraExpertKatherine Sierra

Katherine Sierra is a senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program. A former vice president for sustainable development at the World Bank, she focuses on climate change and energy.

William G. GaleExpertWilliam G. Gale

Bill Gale, the Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy in the Economic Studies Program at Brookings, is an expert on tax policy, fiscal issues, pensions, and saving behavior. He is also co-director of the Tax Policy Center and director of the Retirement Security Project.

Center on Children and FamiliesPolicy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

Vanda Felbab-BrownExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is the author of Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs (Brookings Institution Press, 2009).

Suzanne MaloneyExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

Africa Growth InitiativeResearch ProjectAfrica Growth Initiative

The Africa Growth Initiative conducts high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African researchers in policy-making and planning.

Alice M. RivlinExpertAlice M. Rivlin

In February 1975, the Congressional Budget Office was established with Alice Rivlin as its first director. Rivlin is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy and directs the Greater Washington Research project at Brookings.

Isabel V. SawhillExpertIsabel V. Sawhill

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families and the Budgeting for National Priorities Project at Brookings.

Budgeting for National PrioritiesResearch ProjectBudgeting for National Priorities

The Budgeting for National Priorities project promotes greater fiscal responsibility by developing new ideas, educating the public and finding common ground among experts and policy-makers.