As the 2008 election approaches, St. Louis public transit advocates are making a last push to convince voters to pass Proposition M. It would increase sales taxes by half a cent - about $55 per family per year - to ease a budget crunch. If it doesn't pass, officials say they'll have to slash service. According to the American Public Transit Association, about a third of the country's transit agencies say they'll need to cut service to balance their budgets. The crisis is especially bad in smaller cities: Eugene, Ore., for example, as well as Milwaukee, Wis., and Providence, R.I. Blueprint America -- with Weekend America on public radio -- correspondent Rick Karr takes travels to St. Louis to visit the people who're likely to suffer the most if transit officials do end up cutting service.
Economy
WEEKEND AMERICA :: November 1st, 2008
The Bus Stop: Overview
the dig :: October 31st, 2008
The Dig: Infrastructure and the stimulus package
The New York Times reports on the growing movement in Washington to devote the next stimulus package to infrastructure spending. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D., MN), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has been outspoken in his belief that public works spending needs to start now. He responded to opponents who argue that infrastructure spending would take too long to create a meaningful number of jobs quickly.
WORLDFOCUS :: October 26th, 2008
Global Perspectives: Video: Singapore’s congestion pricing
Traffic gridlock is hindering economic productivity and increasing pollution in countries around the globe. Blueprint America -- with Worldfocus -- travels to Singapore to see how that country is trying to get commuters out of theirs cars and into rapid transit buses and subways with a traffic congestion pricing plan.
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer :: October 15th, 2008
America in Gridlock: Video: The Big Dig
In the last segment of a five part series on infrastructure in the U.S., NewsHour Senior Correspondent Ray Suarez reports with Blueprint America on the critical lessons learned from Boston's Big Dig.
THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER :: October 14th, 2008
America in Gridlock: Web Video: The Infrastructure Governor
Gov. Ed Rendell (D., PA) is an advocate for reforming infrastructure policy and practice in both his state and throughout the rest of America. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Rendell has proposed varying measures to improve the state’s infrastructure, which rates particularly poor in road and bridge quality, from tolling to privatizing public roads.









