Transportation and Infrastructure Issues

This page offers an easy way for policymakers to access transportation and infrastructure research and analysis that is relevant to current Congressional agendas. For additional information, to request documents, or to arrange a briefing, contact the RAND Office of Congressional Relations at ocr@rand.org or (703) 413-1100 x5643.

Recent Findings

  • Commentary

    BBC's Gaza Service Demonstrates Power of Radio During Conflict

    Radio has long been used during conflicts to relay news and information when all other means of communication are knocked out of service. The U.S. Agency for Global Media could follow the lead of the BBC World Service and establish a pop-up station to provide safety and supply updates, emergency medical information, and news to the people in Gaza.

    Nov 28, 2023

  • Commentary

    Ideas for Humanity's Future Approach to Space

    In its first 75 years, RAND helped shape how humankind thought about and used space for the benefit of humanity. And it intends to have a similar impact on the next 75 years of space sustainability, security, and governance. Researchers identified concepts worthy of future study.

    Nov 14, 2023

  • Commentary

    An Affordable Energy Transition Will Require Supportive and Sensible Regulation

    The transition to decarbonize the grid and to electrify end uses to reduce emissions will be challenging, and customer bills may increase in the short term. Regulators can help to keep utilities financially healthy and make a smoother energy transition possible.

    Nov 13, 2023

  • Blog

    Risks of AI, Israel Faces Hard Choices, China 'Doesn't Get It': RAND Weekly Recap

    This weekly recap focuses on the risks of artificial intelligence, tough choices facing the Israeli government, China's blunders on the international stage, and more.

    Oct 20, 2023

  • Commentary

    A Case for Promoting Infrastructure Equity for the Olympics

    In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games for the third time. A critical factor for successfully hosting will be for planners to ask hard questions early, so the community can collaborate with the organizing committee, informing its response to critical themes such as homes, health, transport, jobs, society, and culture.

    Oct 16, 2023

More Research on Transportation and Infrastructure

Briefings

  • Built to Last: Planning and Funding Resilient Infrastructure

    What can Congress do to encourage investments in resilient infrastructure? Debra Knopman and Sarah Weilant will discuss current and historical congressional spending on infrastructure, approaches to building resilience into transportation projects, and recommendations for policymakers. [Washington, D.C.]

    Dec 6, 2019

  • Fixing What's Broken with Infrastructure Policy: Options for Congress

    An infrastructure bill is on the agenda for Congress, but what problems would it fix? In a RAND Congressional Briefing, Debra Knopman will discuss policies that promote and deter investment and maintenance of water and transportation infrastructure.

    Jan 24, 2018

  • A New Way to Pay for Transportation: Exploring a Shift from Fuel Taxes to Mileage-Based User Fees

    Increasing fuel efficiency and the rise of alternative fuel vehicles that do not use gasoline have led to growing shortfalls in federal and state funding for surface transportation programs — shortfalls that are likely to become even more acute in coming years. In this Congressional Briefing, Liisa Ecola will discuss innovations in the use of mileage-based fees.

    Jun 26, 2014

  • "Self Driving" Vehicles: Great Benefits, but Barriers to Widespread Adoption

    After examining the advantages and disadvantages of autonomous vehicles, RAND researchers determined that the overall societal benefits of this new technology likely outweigh the disadvantages. Senior behavioral scientist James Anderson will present the study results.

    Mar 24, 2014

  • The Future of Mobility: Transportation 2030

    What will transportation look like in the United States in the year 2030? Multiple mobility scenarios are possible. Come hear how policymakers and planners can shape the future of mobility in the United States and what factors will influence the creation of the future transportation system.

    Dec 3, 2013

More Transportation and Infrastructure Briefings

Alerts & Newsletters

RAND periodically sends alerts and newsletters to update Congress on highlights of recent work about transportation and infrastructure.

  • RAND Research on Autonomous Vehicles

    As lawmakers consider the future of infrastructure, autonomous vehicles have the potential to drastically change our transportation system.

    Mar 23, 2021

  • Considering Transportation and Infrastructure in the 117th Congress

    What are the biggest transportation and infrastructure issues facing the 117th Congress? RAND experts offer up insight on a variety of topics, including airport funding, infrastructure priorities, impacts of emerging technologies, and more.

    Feb 1, 2021

  • Planning and Funding Resilient Infrastructure

    RAND's Debra Knopman and Sarah Weilant discuss the importance of incorporating resilience in infrastructure planning. They outline three areas where the federal government could be making a difference.

    Dec 18, 2019

  • When Autonomous Vehicles are Hacked, Who is Liable?

    Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are hitting roads around the nation for pilot testing, and autonomous taxi fleets are expected within a few years. While there may be benefits to widespread use, policymakers will need to consider potential drawbacks as well.

    Jul 31, 2019

  • Considering Transportation and Infrastructure in the 116th Congress

    What are the biggest transportation and infrastructure issues facing the 116th Congress? RAND experts offer up insight on a variety of topics, including autonomous vehicles, infrastructure and roadway safety, the Coast Guard, and more.

    Feb 19, 2019

  • Zero Traffic Deaths by 2050

    More than 100 Americans die in motor vehicle crashes every day. The traffic safety community is working together toward the goal of bringing that number down to zero by 2050. Scenario planning has uncovered several ways federal policymakers can help make the vision of zero traffic deaths a reality.

    Apr 23, 2018

  • In Case You Missed It: Fixing What's Broken with Infrastructure Policy

    Across the United States, transportation and water infrastructure needs vary greatly. Debra Knopman discusses what Congress should consider when addressing infrastructure funding.

    Feb 14, 2018

  • Ten Options for Congress to Improve Infrastructure

    What can Congress do to better align policy and spending to public priorities for U.S. infrastructure? Increased federal spending may do some good, but it will not fix what is broken in our approach to funding and financing public works—and not everything is broken.

    Jan 4, 2018

  • Autonomous Vehicles: How Safe is Safe Enough?

    When considering regulations for autonomous vehicles, safety is a critical question. RAND researchers found that introducing autonomous vehicles when they are just better than human drivers—as opposed to nearly perfect—could save hundreds of thousands of lives over 30 years.

    Nov 13, 2017

  • In Case You Missed It: Approaches and Challenges to Realizing Autonomous Vehicle Safety

    Before autonomous vehicles can usher in a new era of safer transportation, there are several challenges to address. Policymakers can help improve autonomous vehicle safety by facilitating pilot studies and data-sharing.

    Mar 2, 2017

  • Getting the Most from Traffic Safety Funding

    What if the United States invested just 10 percent more—$57.9 million—in traffic safety? A new RAND tool examines how this increase may impact safety outcomes such as lives saved and injury prevention.

    Jan 29, 2016

  • 24/7 Sobriety Project: A Promising New Way to Curb Problem Drinking and Reduce Costs

    Recently, the Senate took steps to expand funding for 24/7 Sobriety Programs, like one in South Dakota. These programs are a promising and innovative way to help curb problem drinking and improve public health.

    Aug 20, 2015

  • The Mileage Fee Alternative: Benefits and Challenges

    With the ongoing challenges of transportation funding, some lawmakers have begun to explore a shift from taxing fuel to taxing a vehicle's miles of travel. An objective look at this solution outlines advantages, core challenges, and recent innovations that states are exploring through pilot programs.

    May 19, 2015

  • Mileage Fees: An Alternative to the Gas Tax?

    Some state and federal policymakers have begun to explore a shift from taxing fuel to taxing a vehicle's miles of travel instead. A short, easy-to-understand guide by RAND researchers outlines the potential advantages and core challenges of such mileage fees.

    Apr 15, 2014

  • RAND.org's Redesign: New Homepage and Navigation Optimization for All Devices

    RAND.org has been reimagined to make high quality research and insights more accessible to Hill staff like you. The new homepage and updated navigation optimize content delivery for your preferred device and place our most timely content at your fingertips.

    Mar 20, 2014

  • RAND Can Help Policymakers Strengthen Coastal Resilience

    Tools developed by RAND for use in Louisiana can help policymakers in other coastal states weigh complex decisions on the many possible strategies to prevent coastal land loss, reduce flood risks, rebuild or restore coastal environments, and otherwise increase the resilience of developed coastlines.

    Mar 13, 2014

  • Online Training: Building Resilient Communities

    Today, city planners, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropists, and government leaders are grappling with the challenge of creating disaster-resilient cities. RAND's new easy-to-use, self-guided online training shows organizations and communities how to strengthen their resilience.

    Nov 18, 2013

  • Does America's Gasoline Tax Still Make Sense?

    The cost of gasoline experienced an unusually large increase this February, with prices climbing more than 40 cents per gallon. Yet not a single penny of that increase went toward improving America's roads.

    Apr 3, 2013

  • Hill Briefing on RAND's Contributions to Louisiana Coastal Planning

    In a January 2013 Congressional Briefing, Jordan Fischbach describes RAND's work on the 2012 Coastal Master Plan and key lessons that can make other communities more resilient in the face of natural disasters.

    Mar 19, 2013

  • Mileage Fees: Options for Policymakers

    A new primer outlines for state and local decisionmakers the potential advantages of mileage fees, functional requirements and technical options for implementing them, core challenges in replacing fuel taxes with mileage fees, and recent innovations that states are exploring in pilot tests.

    Feb 8, 2013

  • In Sandy's Wake, Policy Lessons for the Northeast

    New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut policymakers reeling from Hurricane Sandy can draw on the Gulf region's experience with response and recovery from catastrophic hurricanes.

    Nov 16, 2012

  • Louisiana Offers Lessons in Wake of Hurricane Sandy

    Northeastern policymakers reeling from Hurricane Sandy can draw on the Gulf region's experience with response and recovery. As they go forward, they can also look at the measures Louisiana has developed to reduce the risk of storm damage.

    Nov 14, 2012

  • 11 Years After 9/11, a Call for Sweeping Review of Aviation Security

    TSA is performing well under extraordinary difficulties, but there is still need for vast improvement. As attack tactics have continued to evolve, the need for security has resulted in an increasing number of layers—and frustrations—for passengers.

    Sep 14, 2012

  • Better Preparedness for Natural Disasters

    Hurricane Isaac made landfall just before September, which is National Disaster Preparedness month. Although Isaac was a weaker Category 1 Hurricane, many areas of the Gulf Coast evacuated the population, and federal, state, and local governments are responding to the flood damage. But are there areas for improvement?

    Sep 4, 2012

  • A More Effective TSA

    As airport security lines get longer, travelers continue to ask: are all the baggage screenings, shoe removals, and pat-downs worth the extra time and hassle? RAND researchers assess the costs and benefits of aviation security interventions in order to help policymakers decide on potential changes to the system.

    Aug 23, 2012

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