From Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City, this 2-minute clip tells the story of the creation of the Trans-Continental Railroad in the late 1800s.
Transportation
Since the completion of the interstate highway system two decades ago, there has been no national vision driving federal transportation policy. Today, our nation's economy is constrained by crippling traffic and air congestion in metropolitan regions, by its vulnerability to volatile gas prices, and by the lack of transportation options in most communities. These problems, combined with the need to plan for projected population growth and respond to global climate change, calls for an overhaul to the planning and management of our transportation systems. America needs a transportation policy for the 21st century that can help rebuild the economy, promote energy independence, protect the environment, and provide affordable and dependable mobility options for all Americans.America 2050 is calling for a strategic national transportation plan that provides the underpinnings for robust, competitive and sustainable growth in the 21st century in the way the interstate system shaped America's development in the 20th century. This strategic plan would include a "Trans-American Network" of intercity passenger travel and goods movement investments reaching all areas of the country. It should include clear federal objectives for transportation investments, new tools and resources to metropolitan regions to coordinate land use and transportation investments, and a range of new funding sources.
The Trans-American Network and the regional and local investments will likely take a generation or more to implement--which is why we must get started today. The nation's current transportation law expires in September 2009 and the debate over the next surface transportation bill has already begun.
Our recommendations for the upcoming transportation bill focus on five areas:
- Clear national objectives for federal transportation investments to which states and regions are held accountable, such as: promoting economic productivity, transportation connectivity, energy efficiency, climate stability, safety and health, and equitable access to jobs.
- Establishing a Trans-American Network of intercity passenger travel and goods movement to complete our nation's transportation system and to provide reliable and energy efficient means of moving people and goods.
- A commitment to system preservation to maintain our existing roads, bridges, and transit systems in good repair.
- Direct funding and greater flexibility to metropolitan regions to implement comprehensive transportation and land use plans that boost economic productivity, energy efficiency, and transportation options.
- Expanded sources of revenue at the federal, state and local levels, including raising the gas tax, establishing an infrastructure bank, and new financing tools, such as investments by state pension funds in revenue-generating infrastructure and PPPs.
America 2050 has commissioned and released a number of transportation policy papers and recommendation in recent years, relevant to the upcoming bill. They include:
Recommendations for a Trans-American Passenger Network
- Trans-American Passenger Network Map
- Policy Brief
- Talking about High-Speed Rail on Fox Business News
- Intercity Passenger Travel Research
Finance and Revenue Sources
- Using Social Security and Pension Funds to invest in infrastructure
- Future Financing Options to Meet Highway and Transit Needs
- A Transportation Strategy for 21st Century America
- Policies to Transcend Boundaries and Transition to a New Era
- Legislative Considerations for Long Term Policy Change
Recent Entries
Spain has made a multi-billion dollar commitment to a high-speed rail system that aims to unite the country. Learn about it in this short clip from Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City.
Clip courtesy of Blueprint America, produced by PBS and Thirteen.
This clip from the PBS documentary, Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City recounts the history of the Albert Gallatin plan, the Erie Canal, and their impacts on the growth of Detroit and development of 19th century America.
Sometime in the not too distant future, John wakes up in suburban Chicago on a Saturday morning and heads to a White Sox game...in Detroit. Join him on a 300 mile journey to Detroit's Comerica Park as he experiences the transportation options of the future: a neighborhood electric car share program, smart phone ticketing, high-speed rail, and connecting light rail. This clip is brought to you by America 2050 as part of its "A Better Tomorrow" project to visualize America's future communities and transportation systems.
The National Journal Transportation Experts Blog moderator Lisa Caruso asked this week, "Is Obama Spending the High-Speed Rail Money Wisely? Read America 2050 Director Petra Todorovich's response here, along with other responses from a panel of transportation policy analysts and professionals.
America 2050 is planning a Community Sourcing Competition to visualize the future of America's communities and transportation systems. A "Slidecast" of our concept is provided below with audio narration. You can also download this proposal (2 Mb)
to learn more about the effort.
The House narrowly passed a bill yesterday (217-212) aimed at jump starting the American economy by providing $50B for infrastructure projects, $50 B to help states retain public service employees and more than $60B for the extension of unemployment benefits and health insurance.Much of the new infrastructure spending will be directed to transportation projects. The bill includes $37.3B in new transportation spending, including $27.5B for roads and $8.4B for transit. The bill also awards $800M to Amtrak for fleet modernization. The Senate is not expected to take up similar legislation until early in the New Year.
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