THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
Divi
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ROBERT PUENTES Robert Puentes is a fellow with the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. The Metro Program is redefining the challenges facing cities and suburbs in America and promoting innovative solutions to help communities grow in more inclusive, competitive, and sustainable ways. Mr. Puentes' work focuses on the broad array of policies and issues related to metropolitan growth and development. This includes analyzing the extent to which major federal and state spending programs, tax expenditures, regulations and administrative actions are contributing to the growth and development patterns; examining the role of market, corporate, demographic and governance trends in driving these patterns; and recommending options for reform. Mr. Puentes is currently managing several multi-disciplinary research projects including the Metro Program's transportation and infrastructure reform series, a profile and policy options for older suburban America, reframing the challenges and opportunities for affordable housing, a series on the impact of various land use strategies on metropolitan growth, as well as continuing work documenting the consequences of metropolitan sprawl and disinvestment. Recent publications include: “One-Fifth of America: A Comprehensive Guide to America’s First Suburbs,” with David Warren (2006), Taking the High Road: A Metropolitan Agenda for Transportation Reform, with Bruce Katz (2005), "Investing in a Better Future: A Review of the Fiscal and Competitive Advantages of Smarter Growth Development Patterns," with Mark Muro (2004), “Washington's Metro: Deficits by Design” (2004), "Is Home Rule the Answer? Clarifying the Influence of Dillon's Rule on Growth Management," with Jesse Richardson (2003), and "Valuing America's First Suburbs: A Policy Agenda for Older Suburbs," with Myron Orfield (2002). He is a frequent speaker to a variety of groups, including business, civic and political leaders, a regular contributor in newspapers and other media, and has testified before Congressional committees. Prior to joining Brookings, he was the director of infrastructure programs at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. Robert holds a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Virginia. He is currently a member of the Falls Church, Virginia Planning Commission where he lives with his wife and three sons.
March 2006
Metropolitan Policy Program
ROBERT PUENTES FELLOW rpuentes@brookings.edu Tel: 202-797-6071 Fax: 202-797-2965 http://www.brookings.edu/scholars/rpuentes.htm