Infrastructure

Reforming Federal Support for Risky Development

Papers • February 2013 • David R. Conrad, Edward A. Thomas

David Conrad and Ed Thomas explore how the National Flood Insurance Program and other federal disaster relief programs could be reformed to better align the costs and benefits of living in disaster-prone areas and help put the budget on more sound footing. This proposal aims to reduce budget costs of natural disasters and reduce risk to life and property of Americans living in disaster-prone areas.

Funding Transportation Infrastructure with User Fees

Papers • February 2013 • Jack Basso, Tyler Duvall

Investments in infrastructure are essential for a vital economy. Tyler Duvall and Jack Basso suggest looking to user fees as a way to raise revenues, reduce congestion on major roadways, reduce pollution, and promote wiser infrastructure investments.

The Hamilton Project Policy Response to the State of the Union Address

Papers • February 2013

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama outlined an ambitious second-term agenda focusing on policies to help strengthen America’s middle class through broad-based economic growth. Since its launch in 2006, The Hamilton Project has released a range of targeted policy proposals that provide innovative, evidence-based approaches to address many of the priorities set forth in this year’s address, which we offer as a resource to policymakers in response to specific ideas mentioned by the President this week.

Leveling the Playing Field for Natural Gas in Transportation

Papers • June 2012 • Christopher R. Knittel

Domestic natural gas is both cleaner and more affordable than oil, making it an attractive and practical alternative. In a new Hamilton Project paper, Christopher R. Knittel of MIT proposes a series of steps to promote natural gas in transportation.

The Hamilton Project Policy Response to the State of the Union Address

Papers • January 2012

Last night, President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address, putting forth his policy agenda to the 112th Congress on issues. Since its launch in 2006, The Hamilton Project has developed targeted policy proposals that touch on many of these areas, which we offer as a resource to policymakers in response to specific ideas mentioned by the President last evening. 

Investing in the Future: An Economic Strategy for State and Local Governments in a Period of Tight Budgets

Papers • February 2011 • Adam Looney, Michael Greenstone

Confronting near-term budget challenges, state and local governments are under tremendous pressure to focus on immediate needs at the expense of long-term investments. Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney highlight four policy principles for state and local governments with an emphasis on the importance of infrastructure investments for economic growth and prosperity.

Public-Private Partnerships to Revamp U.S. Infrastructure

Papers • February 2011 • Eduardo Engel, Alexander Galetovic, Ronald Fischer

Eduardo Engel, Ronald Fischer, and Alexander Galetovic propose a series of best practices for state and local governments to follow when using public–private partnerships to provide infrastructure.

Fix It First, Expand It Second, Reward It Third: A New Strategy for America’s Highways

Papers • February 2011 • David M. Levinson, Matthew E. Kahn

Matthew Kahn and David Levinson propose a reorganization of our national highway infrastructure priorities to preserve, maintain, and enhance existing infrastructure and the creation of the Federal Highway Bank to meet these goals.

Lowering Borrowing Costs for States and Municipalities Through CommonMuni

Papers • February 2011 • Andrew Ang, Rick Green

Andrew Ang and Richard Green propose the establishment of CommonMuni, a not-for-profit advisory firm designed to reduce borrowing costs for municipalities by overcoming the difficulty individual municipalities and investors have coordinating with one another.

FEATURED

State Roads to Economic Recovery: Policies, Pavements, and Partnerships

February 25, 2011 • Washington, DC

The Hamilton Project and the Metropolitan Policy Program held a forum focused on state strategies that can help close budget deficits while also growing state economies and creating much-needed jobs. As part of the event, The Hamilton Project released three new policy papers, as well as a strategy paper, focused on helping state and local governments invest more efficiently in infrastructure to ensure long-term economic competitiveness. 

Investing in America’s Infrastructure: From Bridges to Broadband

July 25, 2008 • Washington, DC

Governor Tim Kaine joined Robert E. Rubin and Lawrence H. Summers in the opening session of a Hamilton Project public forum on the need for a national strategy that promotes infrastructure as a central component of long-term, broadly shared growth.

Easing the Traffic Jam Through Congestion Pricing

April 1, 2008 • Washington, DC

David Lewis outlined his new Hamilton Project paper on the merits and potential barriers to congestion pricing as a tool for combating urban gridlock at an event co-sponsored with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program.

State Roads to Economic Recovery: Panel 2: Tools for Efficient State Investment

February 25, 2011 • Audio

Full audio of Panel 2: "Tools for Efficient State Investment" from the event State Roads to Economic Recovery: Policies, Pavements, and Partnerships.
 

Public Water and Transportation Spending by State and Local Governments

February 25, 2011 • Charts

State and local governments provide most of the funding for critical infrastructure systems, but spending has declined over the last 50 years.

State Roads to Economic Recovery Event Photos

February 25, 2011 • Photo Galleries

The Hamilton Project and the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings hosted a forum on state strategies that can help close budget deficits while also growing state economies and creating much-needed jobs.

Bruce Katz on the Pressures Facing States to Rebalance Their Budgets

February 25, 2011 • Video

Metropolitan Policy Program Director Bruce Katz on the pressures facing states to rebalance their budgets and transform their economies at the State Roads to Economic Recovery: Policies, Pavements, and Partnerships Hamilton Project and Metropolitan Policy Program event.

Tyler Duvall on Difficulties with Public-Private Partnerships

February 25, 2011 • Video

McKinsey & Co. Associate Principal Tyler Duvall on difficulties with public-private partnerships at the State Roads to Economic Recovery: Policies, Pavements, and Partnerships Hamilton Project and Metropolitan Policy Program event.

Governor Ed Rendell on Federal and State Government Investment

February 25, 2011 • Video

Former Governor Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) on the necessity of government investment at both the federal and state level at the State Roads to Economic Recovery: Policies, Pavements, and Partnerships Hamilton Project and Metropolitan Policy Program event.

Govenor Tim Kaine, Robert Rubin, and Lawrence Summers on Infrastructure Investment

July 25, 2008 • Video

Then-Governor Tim Kaine (D-Va.) joins former U.S. Treasury Secretaries Robert E. Rubin and Lawrence H. summers in panel discussion at the Investing in America’s Infrastructure: From Bridges to Broadband Hamilton Project event.

Douglas Elmendorf on Improving Infrastructure Investment

July 25, 2008 • Video

Then-Hamilton Project Director Douglas W. Elmendorf on improving infrastructure investment through a national strategy that would focus how to use existing infrastructure more efficiently and how to better utilize the dollars already being spent at the Investing in America’s Infrastructure: From Bridges to Broadband Hamilton Project event.

Governor Tim Kaine on Infrastructure Challenges Facing States

July 25, 2008 • Video

Then-Governor Tim Kaine (D-Va.) on Infrastructure challenges facing states at the Investing in America’s Infrastructure: From Bridges to Broadband Hamilton Project event.