Well, it isn’t really smart growth week in the Senate. But it sure feels that way.
Senate committees will consider three different bills this week that will impact federal housing, transportation, and community development programs.
First, the Environment and Public Works committee will consider the DRIVE Act, the newest version of the federal transportation bill, which will either expand or curtail crucial transit-oriented development and Complete Streets programs. The bill includes several strong points, including making transit-oriented-development eligible for the TIFIA program, and lowering project cost thresholds from $50 million to $10 million. It also requires that all modes of transportation be considered when designing National Highway System projects and improves design standards for all roadways by integrating the NACTO Urban Design Guide into federal design standards. The bill incorporates resilience and system reliability as considerations for regional and statewide transportation and slightly increases the funds provided to local communities and regions by five percent through the Surface Transportation Program, and by fully directing all Transportation Alternative Program funds to locals communities through competition. The bill could do more, and we encourage the Senate to do as much, but this is a solid first draft of the bill.
Then, the Appropriations Subcommittee will consider next year’s funding for transportation, housing, and urban development, including many programs that are helping to revitalize neighborhoods and downtowns. HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods, HOME, and CDBG programs as well as the Office of Economic Resilience, and DOT’s budget for new transit construction, Amtrak, and TIGER grants will all be under consideration.
Finally, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will consider S.1626, the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act, which would reauthorize and make vital improvements to the country’s passenger rail program.
All of these programs help communities use a smart growth approach to development and Congress needs to hear from you this week that these issues should be a priority.
Send a letter to your Senators encouraging them to support these federal programs >>
Smart growth strategies help communities grow in ways that support long-term economic prosperity. The programs under consideration in the Senate this week make that work possible. Take a moment to support smart growth at the federal level: Send a letter to your Senators today.