One of my teachers in this great transportation planning effort we call FLATS is Robert Puentes. He is a Senior Fellow with the Brookings Institute. According to their website, the Brookings Institute is non-profit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Their mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:
- Strengthen American democracy;
- Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
- Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.
Mr. Puentes is also the Director of the Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative - and keeps the likes of me on track with what is happening in Washington (funding) and also other national transportation trends.Take for instance a new study he released with research analyst . And these numbers are for urban and rural communities.
So, the main thing I wanted to share with you is short term and long term strategies that Mr. Puentes is proposing to the new Federal Administration. His short term recommendations are stimulation, empowerment, and transparency. Similarly, the long term goals are leadership, encourage competition, and improving its own performance.
Since we always try to mimic what the teachers tells us (except for those few rabble rouses out there), then these same principles will find there way into FLATS planning initiatives.
FLATS is moving towards starting our long range transportation plan. We are in the process of finalizing a contract for a consultant to help us. There are new tools in the game that will be very helpful in making this plan. And we are happy enough to have such a great team including our consultants, our colleagues at the State's DOT, Federal Highways and of course, those guiding words from the Brookings Institute.
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