Transportation is a vital part of a nation’s economy. This case first introduces the transportation investment in The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA 2009), which brings rise to the question, “why is transportation stimulating?”

As a bit of first exploration, the case introduces the relationship between the transportation industry and the macroscopic economy as well as the relationship between the transportation industry and other major industries. This, in turn, forces the reader to ask, “how does transportation stimulate the economy?”

The next part of the case explains the immediate impact of transportation investment via job creation and long term impacts like reducing congestion, improving safety, and economic vitality.

The last section of the case is a “Case within a Case” that introduces the Hiawatha Light-Rail Transit corridor in the Twin Cities. This discussion focuses on the construction of the LRT corridor and its impact on the local economy, especially with regard to real estate.