Compilation of historical images of Detroit, Michigan (1917-1970), edited by Rick Prelinger (Prelinger Archives) for presentation at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) on February 10, 2010.

Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City examines how Detroit, a symbol of America’s diminishing status in the world, may come to represent the future of transportation and progress in America.

In documenting the Great Rescission, not many images are used more than those of a broken down Detroit. A city hit even harder by the financial struggles of the big three automobile companies, it has emptied -- built for 2 million people, it now has half that number. Nearly one-third of the land is unused, and some 80,000 homes are vacant. Still, one local couple sees potential. They are building the 'Power House'.

From Detroit Public Television (DPTV) -- Detroit's transportation future plays a starring role in Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City. DPTV and the Kresge Foundation recently hosted a screening and panel discussion at the Detroit Public Library.

Blueprint America correspondent Rick Karr on the impact of freight moving through communities.

Blueprint America: Public Works is an effort by 18 public television stations across the country that concentrates on the state of their local infrastructure. Communities -- big and small, urban and rural -- are, for the first time, collectively rethinking what it takes to make a place livable. PBS stations are producing radio and television segments, hosting discussions between policy makers and their communities, and offering further content online, all as a part of Blueprint America.

Blueprint Nebraska on Nebraska Educational Television - as a part of Blueprint America - speaks to Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and Sen. Ben Nelson about the federal stimulus package and how the state might use its share. Also, radio reports on the state of Nebraska's infrastructure.

Blueprint America correspondent Rick Karr on the viability of electric rail in America.

Blueprint America -- with The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer -- in a two part report looks at the bottlenecks of America's freight rail network, and the communities the trains intersect.