U.S. Transit, Transportation and Infrastructure: Considerations and Developments

Policymakers at all levels of government are debating a wide range of options for addressing the nation's faltering economic conditions. One option that is once again receiving attention is accelerated investments in the nation's public infrastructure - that is, highways, mass transit, airports, water supply and wastewater, and other facilities - in order to create jobs while also promoting long-term economic growth. This book discusses policy issues associated with using infrastructure as a mechanism to benefit economic recovery. Discussed are the Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP); surface transportation funding and programs under MAP-21; federal-aid highway assistance for disaster-damaged roads and bridges; earthquake risk and U.S. highway infrastructure; information on materials and practices for improving highway pavement performance; federal freight policy; Positive Train Control (PTC); Essential Air Service (EAS); the changing tide of U.S.-international container trade; and containerships that carry inventory for U.S. retailers.