Archive: Columns
How Drone Delivery Can Improve City Life
Shifting “last-mile” deliveries from vans and trucks to drones is a way to reduce congestion, emissions—and possibly even noise pollution
Are American Cities Ready for Special Economic Zones?
SEZs, charter cities, and other private city models are all worth testing. But the barriers to doing so are political
Can Flixbus Save Greyhound?
America’s flagship but beleaguered intercity bus service may benefit from the efficiencies of an upstart German company
It’s Time the Post Office Was Outsourced
The troubled agency would be better off contracting out to the growing private logistics market.
How To Improve U.S. Passenger Rail, Pt. 2
It starts with expanding right-of-way—ideally in a manner that requires minimal eminent domain
How To Improve U.S. Passenger Rail, Pt. 1
While trends and gimmicks are sometimes proposed to bolster rail in America, it may require much simpler steps—namely open competition with Amtrak
“Open Access” Competition Can Improve Intercity Rail
European countries are turning to the market to run rail service. Can America follow?
Does Arizona’s Parking-Free “Culdesac” Have a Future?
A development in Tempe will ban cars in favor of micro-mobility. Can the model spread to other cities?
How “National Landing” Will Affect Urban Development
The fast-growing NoVa neighborhood, bolstered by Amazon HQ2, mixes the ingenuities and moral hazards of America’s biggest institutions.
Modular 2.0: How Prefab Housing Is Making a Comeback
Offsite construction may be the fastest way to build housing cheaply
Should the Federal Government Launch “Rural 5G?”
Rural broadband programs are viewed as an essential investment. But they subsidize an unsustainable lifestyle
Can Tolls Really Fund Road and Infrastructure Expansion?
Tolls can be a better solution for financing roads and taking liabilities off taxpayers.