A new Brookings video-cast with Robert Puentes discusses about the future of high speed rail in the United States. The conversation focuses more on intercity rail than intracity rail, and Puentes talks about the obstacles still in the path for the United States.

While at this point, this is old news, we'd be remiss not to take a moment to mention some very exciting news from St. Louis. Last month, voters across the entire county (not just the city) approved an increase to the transit sales tax that will restore services previously cut--and expand services connecting the suburbs with the downtown. According to this St. Louis Dispatch article, the half-cent increase will fund lost bus and Call-A-Ride services first, and eventually will expand MetroLink services farther into the suburbs...

St. Louis' MetroLink, a light-rail system that forms a network around greater St. Louis, is a great example of a GLUE city making an important long-term change in how its residents get around town. Jeff Vines's photo of the MetroLink is an exciting depiction of the speed and impact of this rail system and how this new technology is being used in an older city...

In the south suburbs of Chicago, a growing group of more than 18 communities are taking a coordinated approach to make the most of federal foreclosure recovery funding, also known as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) (you can read the first two parts of this story here and here). While the South Suburban Housing Collaborative may seem radical

The Dequindre Cut, a one-mile biking and pedestrian parkway, opened in Detroit in May. This strip linked some of Detroit's landmarks--The Eastern Market and the Detroit River--to neighborhoods, encouraging Detroiters to bike or walk their city and connect with other residents. One day, the Cut will hopefully span about 100 miles and connect Detroit's cultural, athletic, and residential centers to allow Detroiters to easily navigate their city without a car. In GLUE cities, new construction like this as well as simple, smaller-scale innovations have made getting around a Midwestern city greener, easier, and more fun...

As we did last week, we're mixing up the "Who's GLUE?" weekly post today.

A panel ensconced by the Public Policy Forum in a Wauwatosa hotel, was strong on the language of cooperation, happy about the International Water Compact, and true believers in the new "work together" mood of our nation....

[W]hy, in an election cycle drowning daily in poll after poll after poll, do we care about another one? Well, ladies and gentlemen, this isn't your grandmother's gallup: The American Association of State Colleges and Universities sums it up nicely: Deliberative Polling

Here at GLUE, some of the things we love are T-shirts, transit, and optimism. And so does this Cincinnati company.

I highly recommend listening to the first half-hour of yesterday's broadcast of Detroit Today (even if you're not from Detroit). John Hertel of the Regional Transit Coordinating Council and Megan Owens from Transit Riders United talked about the newly-announced proposal for gradually developing a rapid transit system for SE Michigan. How do you like this factoid: $1.00 of federal money invested in public transit leads to an average of $6.00 of private sector investment. It's not just an issue for tree-huggers anymore...