back
Smart Transportation for the 21st Century
The United States can no longer afford to ignore its crumbling infrastructure and must restore the structures and systems that support our society. Failing levees in New Orleans, the collapsing I-35 bridge in Minnesota and the exploding steam pipe in Manhattan all underscore the need to attend to this challenge.
Investment is needed in transportation systems, including highways, rails, airports, ports; water, sewer, and flood control systems; energy systems and public facilities.
For the Rockefeller Foundation, transportation is a compelling domain because it is among the essential systems in our democratic polity that provide all citizens - particularly low-income people — with access to economic and social mobility. Framed within the Foundation’s five issue areas, transportation is a primary element within the urban issue area, since it is a fundamental determinant of the vitality and sustainability of America’s metropolitan regions. It relates as well to the climate change issue area because change in transportation policy is integral to the successful framing and implementation of climate change resilience strategies. Finally, it relates to the economic security issue area given that a 21st century transportation policy could translate into thousands of jobs for American workers through massive systems repair and new construction programs.
News
How to Write the Next Transportation Bill Paths to Recovery November 25, 2008; Politico Constructing the stimulus package in order to help restore our nation’s competitiveness and economic prominence. --Bruce Katz and William Gale more Paying Heed to Metros November 23, 2008; Hartford Courant Obama can be first metro president. --Editorial more Piling Up Monuments of Waste November 18, 2008; New York Times The need for a strategic reinvestment in our nation’s infrastructure. --David Leonhardt more Road Blocked November 13, 2008; New Republic Opportunities for President-Elect Obama and the new Congress when it comes to restructuring federal infrastructure spending. --Rob Puentes more An interview with the RF's Nick Turner Shaping the 2009 Transpo Debate October 23, 2008; streetsblog Transportation should be seen as a tool to achieve a variety of social benefits and ends. RF Provides Non-Partisan Support of Policy Discussions Conventions September 2, 2008 The Rockefeller Foundation provided support for non-partisan policy discussions during both the Democratic and Republican Party Convensions: the 2008 Rocky Mountain Roundtable held at the Denver Performing Arts Complex and America's Future: Conversations about Politics and Policy held at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs of the University of Minnesota. more Metros Move to Forge Their Own Transit Futures August 3, 2008; The Washington Post America’s major metro regions may be on the verge of transit independence. They tap federal aid whenever they can. But increasingly they’re being obliged to find money for system expansion right at home. They’re learning to get cities and suburbs on the same page as they prepare for a post-petroleum age. article Our Bridge Is Fixed; the Problem Is Not July 31, 2008; The Modesto Bee One year later, the city of Minneapolis has recovered, the new bridge is nearing completion, but the calls for reinvestment in transportation infrastructure have not been heeded. article National Governors Association Focuses on Infrastructure July 15, 2008; Coverage The National Governors Association considered improving the nation’s crumbling bridges, roads and sewage systems; a $1.6 trillion problem that governors intend to address in the next year. more Infrastructure The Cracks Are Showing June 26, 2008; The Economist For the past few years it has been hard to ignore America’s crumbling infrastructure, from the devastating breach of New Orleans’s levees after Hurricane Katrina to the collapse of a big bridge in Minneapolis last summer. In 2005 the American Society of Civil Engineers estimated that $1.6 trillion was needed over five years to bring just the existing infrastructure into good repair. article Philanthropy's Role in Improving U.S. Infrastructure June 8, 2008; Judith Rodin Interview on NPR   A Transportation Crossroads May 8, 2008; The Washinton Post Opinion by Judith Rodin ...we must expand affordable, accessible and environmentally sustainable transportation options: high-speed and light rail, rapid and mass transit, and walkable, bikeable streets. Washington must provide new incentives for states and cities to promote greener land use, cleaner cars and decreased automotive dependence. more | Washington Post The Next Eisenhower May 9, 2008; The Atlantic Blog by Matthew Yglesias Judith Rodin has an insightful op-ed about the transportation policy crossroads the country faces next year as it comes time for congress to reauthorize the main federal transportation funding legislation. Will the next administration show the vision of a Dwight Eisenhower and give us the fundamental rethink of infrastructure policy we need? Blog entry |
Speeches & Events  WNET Series Spotlights Nation's Crumbling InfrastructureSeptember 29, 2008; Press Release Foundation supports year-long, multi-platform media initiative from PBS -- coverage A Bold, 21st Century Infrastructure Agenda Judith Rodin Addresses the America 2050 Forum May 9, 2008  Oil & Water: Adapting to Scarcity Judith Rodin Addresses the Regional Plan Association April 18, 2008
PLUS: Speaker of the House Pelosi's Remarks at the RPA Event  'Over the last 95 years, the Rockefeller Foundation helped to eradicate disease…alleviate poverty by modernizing agriculture to feed millions…established arts and education institutions... Today, the Rockefeller Foundation has lent its power to no less significant a cause: rebuilding and renewing America.' |
top of the page