July 16th, 2009

 

Public Works: Video: Blueprint Colorado
An update to the Blueprint Colorado project: A series of short videos produced by Rocky Mountain PBS on Denver's Living Streets initiative.

Then, Colorado State of Mind on Rocky Mountain PBS talks with Colorado's state planners to see how the state is managing its infrastructure.

May 27th, 2009

 

Public Works: Video: Blueprint Nebraska
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.

May 20th, 2009

 

The Next American System: [VIDEO] People take warning! (1973)
Coming to you in Technicolor, a classic local television commercial from 1973 showing the rapid population growth in Oregon. Sponsored by the group "Keep Oregon Livable," the ant filled-warning was part of a larger movement that brought planning to the forefront of politics statewide in the era.

May 20th, 2009

 

The Next American System: [VIDEO] The Public Toll
It is fairly understood that America’s transportation infrastructure is in crisis. In 2008, the Federal Highway Trust Fund – the primary source of federal transportation funding –- nearly went bankrupt. And, it is about to again. Its main source of revenue –- the federal gas tax -- has not been raised since 1993 and the cost of maintaining and upgrading the nation’s roads and bridges increased 50 percent in the last ten years.

May 19th, 2009

 

America in Gridlock: [REPORT] The Bank Not Built
President Barack Obama has called for the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank. The intention: To create a structure so public works projects could be, according to the President while campaigning last year, “determined not by politics, but by what will maximize our safety and homeland security; what will keep our environment clean and our economy strong.” Still, it is unclear how a National Infrastructure Bank would function -- or even be established. Felix Rohatyn, author of Bold Endeavors: How our government built America, and why it must rebuild now, on the future of infrastructure investment in the United States.

May 14th, 2009

 

Web Video: Infrastructure?
Ray Suarez (The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer) and David Brancaccio of (NOW on PBS) talk about reporting on America's infrastructure problems with Blueprint America.

April 22nd, 2009

 

America in Gridlock: [VIDEO] Choke Point: The Third Rail
Blueprint America correspondent Rick Karr interviews Edward Hamberger, President and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), about the state of freight rail in America today, as well as its future. The AAR represents the interests of the major freight railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Amtrak.

March 3rd, 2009

 

Web Video: Smart Cars
Driverless cars, intelligent traffic signals, road signs that speak to cars and cars that speak to drivers... These are not the dreams of mad scientists working in a remote region of the country. These are not part of an upcoming episode of a new series on the Sci-Fi channel either. But, these technologies might help save 21,000 of the 43,000 deaths annually recorded on America’s highways.

February 23rd, 2009

 

America in Gridlock: [VIDEO] The Big Two: Ed Rendell & Arnold Schwarzenegger talk infrastructure reform
Two of the Big Three on transportation and infrastructure reform in America, Gov. Ed Rendell, Democrat of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican of California (they make up the group, Building America's Future, along with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Independent of New York City), in a conversation on that very same subject -- calling for a reprioritization of infrastructure development and planning throughout the country. Not only will it modernize infrastructure, they say, bringing it into the 21st century, but it will also quicken economic recovery. By that standard, America is already a decade behind.