http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483657 Alex Marshall is the transportation columnist for GOVERNING and a Senior Fellow at The Regional Plan Association in New York City. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-infrastructure-lessons-from-irish-potato-famine.html Public works projects should only be built when they have a clear purpose, but the United States hasn't always followed this philosophy. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-nyc-bike-sharing-game-changer-for-cities.html New York City’s first bike-sharing program, which is the nation’s largest, has the potential to revolutionize city life -- and not just in the Big Apple. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-states-localities-failing-to-seize-infrastructure-moment.html It’s the best time in probably the last 75 years to overhaul and upgrade our infrastructure, but city halls and statehouses are letting the moment slip away. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-public-or-private-sector-who-controls-broadband.html The question of who will install fiber-optic networks and who will control them is key because it could impact decades of economic growth. Telecom giants like ATandT think they should be the only player. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-solving-americas-internet-access-problem.html Many foreign countries provide faster, cheaper and more widespread Internet access than the United States. In most of them, governments are much more involved with telecom policies and funding. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-seoul-subway-offers-lesson-in-transportation.html The South Korean capital shows what happens when transit is reorganized to serve the people. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-public-services-once-private.html Things we take for granted today -- public police, roads and libraries -- were only achieved through long, hard political battles that lasted decades and sometimes centuries. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-bikers-walkers-need-cities-to-protect-them.html Without laws protecting pedestrians and bikers, the goal of having truly livable cities in America remains out of reach. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-america-must-invest-in-infrastructure-projects.html Have we lost our capacity to think big? Asia and Western Europe are building a series of infrastructure mega-projects that dwarf our efforts. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/col-encouraging-biking-walking-in-large-us-metro-areas.html When home, work, school and shopping are in closer proximity, travel is easier. What can cities do to help get people out of their cars and onto their feet? http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/gov-why-does-our-infrastructure-resemble-third-world.html One explanation may be our budgeting process. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/lesson-for-passenger-rail-from-roads.html A look back at the building of millions of miles of roads shows why passenger rail needs a well-structured bureaucracy in order to succeed. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/can-light-rail-unite-two-va-cities.html Virginia Beach voted against the building of a light rail years ago. Now that it’s up and running in nearby Norfolk, Va., some think beach-dwellers may rethink their decision. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/intercity-bus-travel-roars-back.html Bus travel between major cities is popular, but operators need strict regulation to avoid a race to the bottom. http://www.governing.com/columns/eco-engines/Improving-Ports-to-Keep-Up-with-the-Global-Economy.html With the expansion of the Panama Canal, states and cities are debating whether to spend money deepening channels and expanding facilities to handle new ships.