An effective public transportation system has several positive effects including reducing local and regional energy expenditures; reducing dependence on fossil fuels and foreign energy supplies; improving the quality of life in the region as a whole; linking New Orleans with surrounding regions more effectively to stimulate clustered economic growth; and reducing income disparity by increasing access to jobs, public services, and educational institutions. An effective transportation system is also tourist-friendly and New Orleans has historically relied on tourist dollars as a large percentage of its economy. Finally, a networked transportation system will create jobs. One of the great challenges in rebuilding New Orleans is overcoming the overwhelming setbacks that have already occurred during the rebuilding process. Rescue efforts were hampered by federal mismanagement of FIMA; the displacement of residents has never been fully remedied by state and federal government; insurance companies have stranded their customers, leading to deep and potentially irreversible economic depression in the region. New Orleans is at a pivotal point in the rebuilding process. If enough positive action is taken now, the city can avoid misallocating precious funds. New Orleans must rebuild itself as a socially just, economically...

(nd) How to rebuild New Orleans. Retrieved Mar 19, 2007 at http://architecture.about.com/od/communitydesign/a/rebuildno.htm
Fast Facts: Hurricane Katrina." (2005). FoxNews.com. Retrieved Mar 19, 2007 at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167306,00.html

Friedman, G. (2005) New Orleans: A geopolitical prize. Strategic Forecasting. Retrieved Mar 19, 2007 at http://www.stratfor.com/news/archive/050903-geopolitics_katrina.php

King, H. (2006). Rebuilding New Orleans. Geography.com. Retrieved Mar 19, 2007 at http://geology.com/articles/rebuilding-new-orleans.shtml

Nossiter, a. (2007). In New Orleans, progress at last in the Lower Ninth Ward. New York Times. Retrieved Mar 9, 2007 at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/us/23ninth.html?ex=1174449600&en=3155f12982f8ffea&ei=5070

Shafer, W. (2005). Don't refloat: The case against rebuilding the sunken city of New Orleans. Slate.com. Retrieved Mar 17, 2007 at http://www.slate.com/id/2125810/

Shevori, K. (2007). One path to rebirth in New Orleans. New York Times. Retrieved Mar 19, 2007 at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/business/yourmoney/25natreal.html?ex=1174449600&en=4e23c3dc85778f74&ei=5070