U.S. Transit, Transportation and Infrastructure. Volume 4

Policy-makers 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 examines policy issues associated with using infrastructure as a mechanism to benefit economic recovery. Discussed are airline passenger rights and the federal role in aviation consumer protection; an overview of the federal public transportation program; improved guidance in federal-aid highways which could enhance the states's use of life-cycle cost analysis in pavement selection; passenger rail security and consistent incident reporting and analysis to achieve program objectives; and the TSA explosives detection canine program.