January 2009 Archives

The United States is struggling to maintain its existing infrastructure while other countries have come up with innovative approaches to integrating transportation, land use and energy consumption. With an eye to the upcoming rewrite of the surface transportation law, what lessons can America learn from the rest of the world in terms of transportation developments that are safe, efficient, and cost-effective?

-- Lisa Caruso, NationalJournal.com

35 responses: Eric Britton, Eric Britton, Patrick D. Jones, Eric Britton, Bill Graves, Lisa Caruso, William W. Millar, Randell H. Iwasaki, Pete Ruane, Steve Van Beek, Gabriel Roth, Deron Lovaas, Steve Van Beek, Gabriel Roth, Steve Van Beek, Gabriel Roth, Eric Britton, Patrick D. Jones, Gabriel Roth, Rich Sarles, Bill Graves, Ken Orski, Eric Britton, Janet F. Kavinoky, Richard F. Timmons, Steve Heminger, Bob Poole, Matt Rose, Lisa Caruso, Eric Britton, Ed Wytkind, Gov. Tim Kaine, Robert Puentes, Eric Britton, Patrick D. Jones

Now that everyone has seen the House's $825 billion stimulus bill, what do you think of its $43 billion transportation component (highways and bridges, transit, rail, and aviation)? What policy changes would you make to it? How would you spend the $43 billion dedicated to transportation? And if you want more money for transportation, what else in the bill would you cut to get it? Let's give the House some advice before it's too late.

-- Lisa Caruso, NationalJournal.com

23 responses: Rich Sarles, Deron Lovaas, Richard Mudge, Robin Chase, Randell H. Iwasaki, Lisa Caruso, Matt Rose, Petra Todorovich, Marion C. Blakey, Steve Sandherr, Terry O’Sullivan, Emil H. Frankel, Richard F. Timmons, David A. Raymond, Jon Martz, Paul Yarossi, Robin Chase, Robin Chase, Steve Van Beek, Gabriel Roth, Ken Mead, Pete K. Rahn, John M. Krieger

President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to keep the stimulus bill "free from earmarks and pet projects." But banning earmarks won't restore public confidence if state and local governments don't use the money effectively. Should the stimulus include standards for determining which projects to fund besides being "shovel-ready within 90 days"? How can Congress balance the need to spend wisely with the imperative to spend quickly?

-- Lisa Caruso, NationalJournal.com

30 responses: Steve Van Beek, Steve Sandherr, Geoff Anderson, James C. May, Phineas Baxandall, Richard Mudge, Deron Lovaas, Terry O’Sullivan, Paul Yarossi, Lisa Caruso, Frank Busalacchi, Pete Ruane, Jeffrey Shane, Polly Trottenberg, Deron Lovaas, Ken Orski, Robin Chase, Rich Sarles, Steve Van Beek, Bob Poole, Polly Trottenberg, Terry O’Sullivan, Steve Van Beek, John D. Porcari, Steve Heminger, Robert L. Crandall, Greg Cohen, Bill Graves, Phineas Baxandall, Geoff Anderson

When gasoline hit $4 a gallon last summer, many Americans started driving less, buying more fuel-efficient cars and taking public transportation. But now that gas is much cheaper, Americans may make different choices. With fuel prices and consumer demand so variable, what is the best way to encourage investment in greener, more fuel-efficient alternatives, and what does this uncertainty mean for long-term infrastructure planning?

-- Lisa Caruso, NationalJournal.com

29 responses: Phineas Baxandall, Jeffrey Shane, Rob Atkinson, Richard Mudge, Ken Orski, Deron Lovaas, Eric Britton, Richard Mudge, Patrick D. Jones, Robin Chase, James C. May, Jon Martz, Steve Sandherr, Gov. Tim Kaine, Terry O’Sullivan, Rich Sarles, Greg Principato, Matt Rose, Patrick D. Jones, Pete K. Rahn, Deron Lovaas, Bill Graves, Rob Atkinson, Steve Van Beek, Greg Cohen, Ken Orski, Steve Heminger, Robert L. Crandall, Robin Chase