The Focal Point of Infrastructure Revolution

America has fallen from its pedestal as the most competitive economy in the world. Gradually, countries such as Brazil, China, India, and Singapore have grown to the point where they are competing neck to neck with the United States. The Euro has become the more powerful than the dollar, and America has become almost a laughing stalk in terms of competitive edge. Many of the luxuries that Americans enjoy are created by businesses centered in other countries. Major car companies, such as Kia, BMW, Toyota, and Nissan are more commonly driven on American roads than American based car companies such as General Motors and Ford. My mother drives a Toyota and has a Mercedes, my car is a Lexus RX300, and my father drives a BMW. All of these are foreign cars. America does not manufacture like it once did. Detroit was formally known as an international power in the auto industry, but now the entire city is struggling economically. With the amount of focus that the American government places on automobile industries, to the point where the government bailed out General Motors when it was on the verge of dying, one would think that Americans would be more motivated to use American made cars. We are an automobile dependent country, so why would we rely on other countries’ auto industries to provide the cars we used? The American government should do more to provide modes of transportation for its citizens, whether it is by creating alternate forms of transportation from automobiles or to support American based auto industry.

America has no internationally significant mode of transportation that makes it stand out. Compared to the convenience of the Euro Rail in Europe, or the light rails in Spain, transportation in America is really inefficient. In Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City, the topic of redesigning the infrastructure of the city is discussed heavily. The situation in Detroit is significant because it represents a start to complete change of many cities. Detroit developing a good public transportation system will trigger the start of a new look at the city. Imagine a Detroit with good public transportation. Hopefully as a result, the streets will be clearer of cars, which would make walking safer for pedestrians. More communities will grow closer together, due to the growing social encounters since everyone is no longer isolated by their cars. The money from the transportation system, whether bus, train, or street car will go to benefit the city. With the potential for advancement in Detroit, the success of the model will encourage other cities to develop and improve their public transportations. Cities like Atlanta will work to improve the bus and train system, making it more accessible for everyone, saving much time and money for each individual. What is required for this change though, is a starting point, and In Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City argues that Detroit can be the focal point for this necessary change. Perhaps a trigger in one city can spread a revolution of transportation infrastructure. It would not be a bad thing at all.

Resources:

Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City. Dir. Aaron Woolf. Prod. PBS. 2010. Film.