The Big Ideas Project

Allow private businesses that can provide transportation at the equivalent of 120 mpg or better, such as Solar Personal Rapid Transit, to lease use of public rights-of-way to bring our transportation system into the 21st century, provide ten-times-better transportation, promote solar distributed energy, and cut carbon dioxide emissions approximately in half.

Submitted by Judeth Van Hamm, Bay State Sunway in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 19, 2014, 5:57 p.m.

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#1681

66 votes

Invest in increasing cybersecurity (training investment, too) for updated (more investment!) electric grids, aqueducts, transportation, etc.

Submitted by Debi G. from WA in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 11, 2014, 1:28 p.m.

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#1708

64 votes

Provide 'tiny homes' for those who show a will to be responsible for a monthly rental for a new neighborhood adjacent to one which appears to be deteriorating consisting of a basic 5 Acre plot headed by a consortium of Architects, Engineers, and City Planners.

Submitted by artnouvo in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 10, 2014, 4:01 p.m.

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#1708

64 votes

the mission statement of the army corp of engineers says 'With environmental sustainability as a guiding principle, our disciplined Corps team is working diligently to strengthen our Nation’s security by building and maintaining America’s infrastructure and providing military facilities where our service members train, work and live' ......have them maintain the infrastructure.

Submitted by diane b. from NC in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 22, 2014, 6:48 p.m.

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#1724

63 votes

We NEED bikeway, walkways and train systems...not all cars please- inless we have more electric cars...big oil is ruining the world.

Submitted by Heidi S. from OH in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 8, 2015, 4:27 p.m.

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#1738

62 votes

Mandate cable companies pro-rate their billing to represent the portion of the customer used channel access. For example, Optima offers 1,000 tv channels. I view approximately 30 channels. As such, I should pay 3% of the fee charged for providing the 1,000 tv channels.

Submitted by Knowledge in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 19, 2014, 2:26 p.m.

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#1766

60 votes

All new infrastructure projects should be put on hold and all available funds used to repair and or replace our deteriorating infrastructure.

Submitted by jrhearsen in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 9, 2014, 11:37 p.m.

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#1776

59 votes

Congress (both houses) should pass a resolution finding that all citizens and all people have intrinsic worth, and that in the coming disemployment from automation we should be treated equitably. The ask is small -- a resolution -- but the principle is huge.

Submitted by Bruce Donnelly in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 7, 2015, 5:52 p.m.

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#1776

59 votes

Excess storm water and snow recapture for transport to the drought and sunny states, in exchange for veggies that can't be grown in snow regions year round. Win win for states and can help to feed the poor who's wages don't match the times. The trucking in of snow or water to be used in fields of farmers who have live stock or grazing, that are droughty. Man made ponds with eco-system in mind. Also the new water generatos in every home/self powered when bought. We've got to go natural

Submitted by Same in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 14, 2015, 8 a.m.

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#1817

56 votes

Invest in space technologies. Build the infrastructure on the moon like we have in orbit, but on a permanent basis. A permanent settlement on the moon will expand human knowledge, and give us a foothold in the solar system. Mining asteroids offer a cleaner alternative to mining our own planet

Submitted by Cochituate in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 11, 2014, 8:54 a.m.

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#1817

56 votes

Wire all interstate roads and major long haul roadways to wirelessly transmit electricity to vehicles on them. This way large trucks (to start) could use power generated in power plants instead of by their relatively small engines. It is much more efficient to generate electricity in a power plant and transmit it by power lines than it is to generate torque in a small engine. Also, this would allow some trucks and cars to not carry any fuel or an engine, reducing weight and energy use.

Submitted by jumpy in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 11, 2014, 9:18 p.m.

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#1841

54 votes

Failure to adequately fund Forrestal's tokamak (hydrogen plasma fusion reactor) for the past thirty years means we still rely on fossil fuels and indirect solar energy. In 1985 Forrestal announced laboratory breakeven for their fusion reactor and Reagan slashed funding in half to send more to Berkeley's Livermore laser implosion to try to support his "Star Wars" project, which remains a failure while Forrestal remains mothballed. 20 billion bucks would provide clean safe cheap energy for all.

Submitted by Doctor bill in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 4, 2015, 7:19 p.m.

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#1853

53 votes

DEVELOPE A NATIONAL ALTERNATE POWER GRID LOOP! Electric distributors, (POWER PLANT and GRID OWNERS) have kept solar and wind power from development because of loss of profits from decentralized production of power (solar panels on roof tops) BECAUSE OF "EXISTING SYSTEM LIMITATIONS". So to challenge their monopoly we have to construct dedicated Power Grid Loop extending from areas of high availability, (deserts, Great Plains, Coastal, off coast) from coast to coast to Metro areas

Submitted by Kristopher W. from OR in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 8, 2015, 12:57 p.m.

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#1853

53 votes

We need lunar-based solar electricity! The Japanese have a plan already. We would get not only green, renewable and cheap energy--it could even solve the economic problem of humanity!

Submitted by Mitosis Consulting in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 19, 2014, 12:30 a.m.

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#1870

51 votes

Require projects involving depreciable assets have built in planning for replacement cost for a minimum of three cycles. Example major road project incluyde a projected income plan to replace a fifty year road life three times over, namely, to assure adequate funding to allow the project repairs be available for at least two hundred years. Similarly for sewer and water purification projects.

Submitted by nokoch in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 10, 2014, 8:52 p.m.

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#1870

51 votes

Invite public creativity to be submitted and a mega prize given for design of the cheapest, energy efficient, and most effective city to city, state to state, intercoastal public transportation, Then make it happen!

Submitted by Kris-Progressive in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 17, 2014, 4:14 p.m.

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#1886

50 votes

"FAIR FUEL STABILIZER" IN U.S. GASOLINE TAX, to take public advantage of low gasoline/diesel prices -- such as the extremely low current prices -- and at long last truly fund America's declining infrastructure and public transit. Americans are savng some $450 million daily in gas taxes. If half of the reduced price of gas were added to the very low U.S. gas tax, we would be able to much better fund our built and natural environment while incenting reduced use of polluting fossil fuels.

Submitted by Gregory Wright, ADA So Cal Board Member in Infrastructure & Technology Jan. 2, 2015, 10:49 a.m.

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#1897

49 votes

A "TRANSIT PASS (instead of New-Car Cash) FOR CLUNKERS" program that provides paid-for public transportation to individuals who retire their low-mileage vehicles for dismantling would help lower U.S. carbon emissions from transportation far more than the ballyhooed Cash for Clunkers program did, while sending additional funds to America's public transportation sector for local jobs, and helping lower- and fixed-income Americans who trade in their 'clunkers' for a multi-year transit pass.

Submitted by Gregory Wright, ADA So Cal Board Member in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 22, 2014, 5:57 a.m.

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#1909

48 votes

Provide public facilities in metropolitan areas that enable homeless, unemployed, and under-employed people to generate energy using exercise equipment. Provide and automatically credit accounts for a portion of the value of the energy created.

Submitted by Timothy Salt in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 26, 2014, 2:10 p.m.

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#1961

44 votes

Start a public works project to drill for geothermal power and give out free electricity once the infrastructure is in place

Submitted by Chyle in Infrastructure & Technology Dec. 12, 2014, 7:59 a.m.

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#1964

43 votes

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