In light of President Trump's comments about infrastructure in his inaugural address and during the campaign, Penn IUR asked its urban experts to respond to the question: What should the United States do about urban infrastructure?
In his inauguration speech, President Trump characterized America's infrastructure as having “fallen into disrepair and decay” and promised to “build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways.” Similarly, over the course of the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to develop "the next generation" of American infrastructure and "send new skyscrapers soaring."
We asked more than a dozen urban experts: In your view, what should the United States do about urban infrastructure?
Their answers point to the importance and complexity of infrastructure’s place in urban development and policy. Our experts discuss everything from financing and re-prioritizing infrastructure investments to infrastructure’s role in distressed areas. They consider the 21st century definition of infrastructure and what it means for infrastructure investments to be inclusive, environmentally sound and evidence-based. Together, these reflections show the magnitude of infrastructure’s potential role in the coming years, both in terms of its promise and its challenges.
Eugenie Birch and Susan Wachter, Co-Directors, Penn Institute for Urban Research
Contributors: Infrastructure and Distressed Areas | Timothy J. Bartik
Infrastructure Investment Must Benefit All | Angela Glover Blackwell
Transportation in Inclusive Economic Development | Paul C. Brophy
Invest in the Public Realm | Peter Hendee Brown
Infrastructure Spending to Greatness? | Gilles Duranton
Financing Urban Infrastructure | Erick Guerra
Re-prioritizing Federal Infrastructure Investments | John D. Landis
Water and the Nation’s Infrastructure | Howard Neukrug
Utilizing Environmental Intelligence in Infrastructure Planning | Jeremy Nowak
Consider Infrastructure’s Optimal Use | Megan Ryerson
Multi-tasking Infrastructures | Saskia Sassen
Infrastructure: Make It Green | Frederick Steiner
Pursuing Evidence-based Infrastructure Objectives | Sarah Rosen Wartell
Historical Patterns of Infrastructure Funding | Dick Voith
Financing America’s Infrastructure Needs | Robert Yaro
Improved Infrastructure Must Include Affordable Housing | Mark Zandi
FULL STORY: Expert Voices 2017: America's Urban Infrastructure

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont