The document discusses transportation equity and outlines several key issues:
1) Transportation costs burden low-income households and many rural areas lack options, restricting access to opportunities.
2) Transportation infrastructure projects provide few jobs for minorities and women.
3) Public transit systems face budget cuts that reduce service as costs rise.
4) Past transportation policies have disproportionately impacted the health of disadvantaged communities.
The document calls for transportation reforms that create affordable options, ensure fair access to jobs, promote healthy communities, and invest equitably.
Creating healthy neighborhoods through action and policy changeEveryday Democracy
New York City residents are taking action to address concerns about food and health disparities. Four action teams are connecting residents with elected officials and local businesses, educating the public about the Farm Bill, and developing incentives for people to make healthy food choices.
The document summarizes survey results on services provided by agencies in an area, identifies problems like unemployment, transportation, housing and healthcare, and assesses needs. Transportation is a complex issue, with many residents dependent on public transportation or childcare. Housing is also a major issue, with some homes lacking quality or affordability. Health insurance is challenging to obtain for all residents.
If we're going to make progress in our communities and in our country, people from all backgrounds and views must work together to address racism and inequities. Check out three communities that are working to create racial equity.
Using community-driven solutions to address divisive racial issuesEveryday Democracy
Leaders in Lynchburg, Va., looked for a new way to help residents grapple with issues of racism and racial equity in their increasingly diverse city. More than 2,000 people have taken part in dialogues, action forums, and other efforts to make change in their community.
The document summarizes John Powell's presentation on collaborative solutions for inclusive and sustainable community economic development. It discusses how opportunity structures differ between communities and regions. It advocates looking at the relationships between institutions, systems and people. The presentation focuses on strategically connecting communities to opportunity through collaboration, engagement and empowerment across multiple domains to create equitable regions where all people and places have access to basic needs and a voice in their future.
City commissioners in Decatur, Ga., launched a major effort to recruit residents to decide how to build a sense of community and to find common ground for solving community conflicts. Since then, civic engagement has become a habit and the city is engaging residents in its 2010 strategic plan.
Everyone wants to live in a place where they have the chance to thrive. Read about three communities that are working to address poverty and build a thriving community.
Creating healthy neighborhoods through action and policy changeEveryday Democracy
New York City residents are taking action to address concerns about food and health disparities. Four action teams are connecting residents with elected officials and local businesses, educating the public about the Farm Bill, and developing incentives for people to make healthy food choices.
The document summarizes survey results on services provided by agencies in an area, identifies problems like unemployment, transportation, housing and healthcare, and assesses needs. Transportation is a complex issue, with many residents dependent on public transportation or childcare. Housing is also a major issue, with some homes lacking quality or affordability. Health insurance is challenging to obtain for all residents.
If we're going to make progress in our communities and in our country, people from all backgrounds and views must work together to address racism and inequities. Check out three communities that are working to create racial equity.
Using community-driven solutions to address divisive racial issuesEveryday Democracy
Leaders in Lynchburg, Va., looked for a new way to help residents grapple with issues of racism and racial equity in their increasingly diverse city. More than 2,000 people have taken part in dialogues, action forums, and other efforts to make change in their community.
The document summarizes John Powell's presentation on collaborative solutions for inclusive and sustainable community economic development. It discusses how opportunity structures differ between communities and regions. It advocates looking at the relationships between institutions, systems and people. The presentation focuses on strategically connecting communities to opportunity through collaboration, engagement and empowerment across multiple domains to create equitable regions where all people and places have access to basic needs and a voice in their future.
City commissioners in Decatur, Ga., launched a major effort to recruit residents to decide how to build a sense of community and to find common ground for solving community conflicts. Since then, civic engagement has become a habit and the city is engaging residents in its 2010 strategic plan.
Everyone wants to live in a place where they have the chance to thrive. Read about three communities that are working to address poverty and build a thriving community.
http://www.nfg.org/hope_heartland_recap
The current debates within progressive circles about the importance of “winning over” the white working class often fail to directly address the need for honest conversations about race, racism and xenophobia. It is tempting for many political strategists and funders to think that we can find and fund a short cut—better candidates, better field canvassing, better television ads, better framing etc... And, that these solutions will influence white, working class voters to (re)align with progressive candidates and causes.
These interventions are doomed from the start because they often focus on how to influence short-term behavior (voting) and fail to engage people in the honest conversations about how the race, racism, and xenophobia are being used to scapegoat their neighbors and divide them from other working-class communities.
This webinar features Tarso Luis Ramos of Political Research Associates in a conversation with Mark Schultz from the Land Stewardship Project in Minnesota and Rhonda Perry of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center. After an overview of xenophobic, white nationalist, and “alt-right” groups in the U.S., the speakers discuss successful models for organizing thousands of rural, white, working-class community members using explicit conversations about race and racism.
Hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock.
Co-sponsored by the Ceres Trust and Neighborhood Funders Group.
Speakers:
- Tarso Luís Ramos | Executive Director | Political Research Associates (PRA)
- Rhonda Perry | Program Director | Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC)
- Mark Schultz | Executive Director | Land Stewardship Project (LSP)
Webinar: Stabilizing Communities: Advancing Housing Justice Organizing and Po...Neighborhood Funders Group
http://www.nfg.org/stabilizing_communities_webinar_recap
Across the country, resident-led institutions and their allies continue to build organizing strategies that address housing, displacement, and gentrification at the local, regional, and state level. Strategies and solutions to gentrification and displacement like rent control measures, passing local ballot initiatives for renter protections, developing community land trusts, and financing affordable housing has had some success, but the demographics of many communities are still rapidly changing.
At the center of these shifts, philanthropy continues to play a critical role investing in expanding the power of low-income communities to build local decision-making. How will federal level changes exacerbate challenges at the city-level? How are community groups connecting to other local challenges? What are some of the strategies emerging in 2017 that teams are working on to address the housing crisis?
Speakers:
Dawn Phillips | Right to the City Alliance & Causa Justa :: Just Cause
Sasha Hauswald | Grounded Solutions Network
Felicia Griffin | FRESC: Good Jobs, Strong Communities
Ed Whitfield | Fund for Democratic Communities
The document summarizes the results of the MetroQuest survey conducted for the Heartland 2050 regional visioning project. Some key findings include:
- Residents see a strong economy and job growth as most important for quality of life. They want investment in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- Affordability is seen as a strength but residents are concerned about inequality and crime.
- Support for active transportation, mixed-use development, and investing in existing communities rather than expanding outward.
- Education and health care access are also priorities.
Erie, Pa., has been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs, leaving 17% of individuals and 11% of families living in poverty. The dialogue-to-change process has made space for residents to voice their concerns and identify possible solutions to reduce poverty and violence, as well as attract new businesses.
The document discusses strategies for building opportunity communities by connecting people to opportunities and remedying opportunity isolation. It argues that a crisis presents an opportunity for transformative change, including rethinking narratives around opportunity and redesigning institutions to ensure all people can participate. Specifically, it proposes adopting opportunity-based approaches to housing and development to connect marginalized groups with jobs, schools, services and civic life in high-opportunity areas through both in-place improvements and mobility programs.
This is a summary of findings from the Strong Starts for Children Policy Forum in Santa Fe, N.M., on Jan. 24, 2011. Some 150 parents, neighbors, child advocates and policymakers met for a policy forum in New Mexico to celebrate the work of the five Strong Starts programs and to work through the pros and cons of policy options for improving the lives of New Mexico’s youngest children.
Please use the points in this report when you to talk to each other, to early childhood advocates, and to your policymakers about what New Mexicans want in order to ensure bright futures for their children.
By 2050, older adults will outnumber children globally. 90% of AARP members want to age in place at home. However, many homes and communities present barriers to aging in place such as stairs, handles, and lack of transportation. AARP advocates for livable communities with housing and transportation options that allow seniors to safely remain independent in their homes and access services. This includes developing affordable housing near public transportation to create sustainable, transit-oriented communities where people of all ages can thrive.
The document discusses the need for new kinds of leadership to address increasing diversity and participation. It notes that civic engagement is lowest in diverse communities and nonprofits struggle to recruit and develop young leaders. The Public Allies program places young people in nonprofit apprenticeships, provides leadership training, and aims to develop a diverse new generation of nonprofit leaders committed to social change.
Public and “Social-Public” Alternatives to Commercial Models of Water DeliveryTIERRA
This document summarizes alternatives to privatized water delivery models in Latin America based on a literature review and interviews. It finds that public water utilities remain common but face pressure to corporatize. Emerging alternatives discussed include public-public partnerships between utilities, greater civil society participation in large urban utilities, community-run water cooperatives and systems, and small-scale systems run by peri-urban communities where states have not provided water access. Challenges include balancing social and economic goals, and ensuring alternatives are financially sustainable rather than temporary solutions.
This document summarizes a seminar on service learning along the Mexico-Guatemala border regarding health services. The seminar objectives are to demonstrate cultural understanding, compare the two border regions, understand causes of migration and health effects, learn sustainable development models, and provide direct service. The itinerary includes locations in Mexico and Guatemala. Discussion topics include root causes of migration like economics and violence, health risks along migrant routes, health promotion for at-risk populations, and policy recommendations. Reflections touch on issues like inadequate public health response and the complexity of migration causes. Partnerships between organizations are acknowledged.
Founded in 1993, Water.org provides clean drinking water and sanitation services to people in 14 countries. It relies on internet marketing and social media campaigns hosted on sites like YouTube. While its WaterCredit program has been praised, experts suggest Water.org could improve program evaluation, women's programs, and marketing. The Better Business Bureau gives Water.org a low rating due to lack of financial information transparency.
Guatemala has high rates of people without access to clean water and sanitation, especially in rural and indigenous communities. Its political history of authoritarian rule and civil war means government involvement could undermine trust in Water.org's programs. Face-to-face outreach may be needed to communicate with and build trust
It has been eight years since Katrina struck and the levees failed. And in just two more years at the 10th anniversary, the nation will turn its attention to our region to see whether the massive federal and charitable investments here have paid off. So we’re taking stock now. Where have we made progress? Where do we have more work to do? And has the New Orleans metro really broken from its historic path and taken up a new trajectory akin to Austin, Raleigh, and Nashville?
The 2014 NCLR Annual Report summarizes NCLR's advocacy efforts in 2014 which helped generate momentum for President Obama's executive action on immigration reform. This executive action would allow up to 5 million immigrants to stay in the US with their families and contribute more to the economy. The report details how NCLR used advocacy, programs, engagement with affiliates, and coalition building to pave the way for this executive action on immigration, which was potentially the most significant progress on immigration reform in 20 years.
Speaking up, taking action to improve education for allEveryday Democracy
Across the country, people are concerned with how our children are doing in school. In Arkansas, the school boards association has been running “study circles” allowing local residents to weigh in on educational decisions in their community since 1998.
This document discusses strategies for promoting civic engagement among youth, including connecting youth to caring adults and empowering youth leadership. It also outlines several programs and activities that encourage civic participation, such as community service, arts, and youth-led organizations focused on social and political issues. The goal is to develop skills like critical thinking and empower youth to create positive change in their communities.
Why Are Americans Obsessed With Their Cars?Farid Sharifi
Americans rely heavily on personal automobiles for transportation compared to other developed nations where public transportation is more widely used. The U.S. focused on building an extensive automobile infrastructure in the 20th century including highways, while public transportation declined. This led to lower population densities and suburban sprawl that made public transportation less viable. Political and economic factors have also discouraged investment in public transportation in the U.S., negatively impacting mobility for those without access to cars.
The document discusses several concepts related to managing globalization and creating a more sustainable future, including living within ecological means, developing a global conscience, and balancing free trade with fair trade. It notes that countries like the UK and US have very large ecological footprints and consume more than what could be supported globally if everyone had their lifestyle. Taking steps towards fair trade, ethical shopping, and reducing food miles are presented as ways to help offset environmental costs of global trade. Developing a shared global awareness of social and environmental issues through improved communication is also seen as important for managing changes related to globalization.
This document summarizes key points from a presentation by Radhika Fox on transportation equity. It discusses how inadequate and inequitable transportation access hinders economic opportunities, with low-income households spending a large portion of their income on transportation. It outlines principles for promoting equitable transportation policies, such as affordable options for all, fair access to jobs, and healthy communities. The presentation argues for a new transportation bill that invests in public transit, complete streets, and sustainable communities to create jobs and improve access, health, and outcomes.
The document discusses transportation equity and case studies of equitable community engagement in transit planning in the Twin Cities region. It provides examples of how community groups have advocated for inclusive transit planning processes that consider environmental justice and benefit nearby low-income communities and communities of color. The case studies illustrate efforts to ensure equitable access to transit stops, affordable housing, and job opportunities associated with new transit lines.
http://www.nfg.org/hope_heartland_recap
The current debates within progressive circles about the importance of “winning over” the white working class often fail to directly address the need for honest conversations about race, racism and xenophobia. It is tempting for many political strategists and funders to think that we can find and fund a short cut—better candidates, better field canvassing, better television ads, better framing etc... And, that these solutions will influence white, working class voters to (re)align with progressive candidates and causes.
These interventions are doomed from the start because they often focus on how to influence short-term behavior (voting) and fail to engage people in the honest conversations about how the race, racism, and xenophobia are being used to scapegoat their neighbors and divide them from other working-class communities.
This webinar features Tarso Luis Ramos of Political Research Associates in a conversation with Mark Schultz from the Land Stewardship Project in Minnesota and Rhonda Perry of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center. After an overview of xenophobic, white nationalist, and “alt-right” groups in the U.S., the speakers discuss successful models for organizing thousands of rural, white, working-class community members using explicit conversations about race and racism.
Hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock.
Co-sponsored by the Ceres Trust and Neighborhood Funders Group.
Speakers:
- Tarso Luís Ramos | Executive Director | Political Research Associates (PRA)
- Rhonda Perry | Program Director | Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC)
- Mark Schultz | Executive Director | Land Stewardship Project (LSP)
Webinar: Stabilizing Communities: Advancing Housing Justice Organizing and Po...Neighborhood Funders Group
http://www.nfg.org/stabilizing_communities_webinar_recap
Across the country, resident-led institutions and their allies continue to build organizing strategies that address housing, displacement, and gentrification at the local, regional, and state level. Strategies and solutions to gentrification and displacement like rent control measures, passing local ballot initiatives for renter protections, developing community land trusts, and financing affordable housing has had some success, but the demographics of many communities are still rapidly changing.
At the center of these shifts, philanthropy continues to play a critical role investing in expanding the power of low-income communities to build local decision-making. How will federal level changes exacerbate challenges at the city-level? How are community groups connecting to other local challenges? What are some of the strategies emerging in 2017 that teams are working on to address the housing crisis?
Speakers:
Dawn Phillips | Right to the City Alliance & Causa Justa :: Just Cause
Sasha Hauswald | Grounded Solutions Network
Felicia Griffin | FRESC: Good Jobs, Strong Communities
Ed Whitfield | Fund for Democratic Communities
The document summarizes the results of the MetroQuest survey conducted for the Heartland 2050 regional visioning project. Some key findings include:
- Residents see a strong economy and job growth as most important for quality of life. They want investment in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- Affordability is seen as a strength but residents are concerned about inequality and crime.
- Support for active transportation, mixed-use development, and investing in existing communities rather than expanding outward.
- Education and health care access are also priorities.
Erie, Pa., has been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs, leaving 17% of individuals and 11% of families living in poverty. The dialogue-to-change process has made space for residents to voice their concerns and identify possible solutions to reduce poverty and violence, as well as attract new businesses.
The document discusses strategies for building opportunity communities by connecting people to opportunities and remedying opportunity isolation. It argues that a crisis presents an opportunity for transformative change, including rethinking narratives around opportunity and redesigning institutions to ensure all people can participate. Specifically, it proposes adopting opportunity-based approaches to housing and development to connect marginalized groups with jobs, schools, services and civic life in high-opportunity areas through both in-place improvements and mobility programs.
This is a summary of findings from the Strong Starts for Children Policy Forum in Santa Fe, N.M., on Jan. 24, 2011. Some 150 parents, neighbors, child advocates and policymakers met for a policy forum in New Mexico to celebrate the work of the five Strong Starts programs and to work through the pros and cons of policy options for improving the lives of New Mexico’s youngest children.
Please use the points in this report when you to talk to each other, to early childhood advocates, and to your policymakers about what New Mexicans want in order to ensure bright futures for their children.
By 2050, older adults will outnumber children globally. 90% of AARP members want to age in place at home. However, many homes and communities present barriers to aging in place such as stairs, handles, and lack of transportation. AARP advocates for livable communities with housing and transportation options that allow seniors to safely remain independent in their homes and access services. This includes developing affordable housing near public transportation to create sustainable, transit-oriented communities where people of all ages can thrive.
The document discusses the need for new kinds of leadership to address increasing diversity and participation. It notes that civic engagement is lowest in diverse communities and nonprofits struggle to recruit and develop young leaders. The Public Allies program places young people in nonprofit apprenticeships, provides leadership training, and aims to develop a diverse new generation of nonprofit leaders committed to social change.
Public and “Social-Public” Alternatives to Commercial Models of Water DeliveryTIERRA
This document summarizes alternatives to privatized water delivery models in Latin America based on a literature review and interviews. It finds that public water utilities remain common but face pressure to corporatize. Emerging alternatives discussed include public-public partnerships between utilities, greater civil society participation in large urban utilities, community-run water cooperatives and systems, and small-scale systems run by peri-urban communities where states have not provided water access. Challenges include balancing social and economic goals, and ensuring alternatives are financially sustainable rather than temporary solutions.
This document summarizes a seminar on service learning along the Mexico-Guatemala border regarding health services. The seminar objectives are to demonstrate cultural understanding, compare the two border regions, understand causes of migration and health effects, learn sustainable development models, and provide direct service. The itinerary includes locations in Mexico and Guatemala. Discussion topics include root causes of migration like economics and violence, health risks along migrant routes, health promotion for at-risk populations, and policy recommendations. Reflections touch on issues like inadequate public health response and the complexity of migration causes. Partnerships between organizations are acknowledged.
Founded in 1993, Water.org provides clean drinking water and sanitation services to people in 14 countries. It relies on internet marketing and social media campaigns hosted on sites like YouTube. While its WaterCredit program has been praised, experts suggest Water.org could improve program evaluation, women's programs, and marketing. The Better Business Bureau gives Water.org a low rating due to lack of financial information transparency.
Guatemala has high rates of people without access to clean water and sanitation, especially in rural and indigenous communities. Its political history of authoritarian rule and civil war means government involvement could undermine trust in Water.org's programs. Face-to-face outreach may be needed to communicate with and build trust
It has been eight years since Katrina struck and the levees failed. And in just two more years at the 10th anniversary, the nation will turn its attention to our region to see whether the massive federal and charitable investments here have paid off. So we’re taking stock now. Where have we made progress? Where do we have more work to do? And has the New Orleans metro really broken from its historic path and taken up a new trajectory akin to Austin, Raleigh, and Nashville?
The 2014 NCLR Annual Report summarizes NCLR's advocacy efforts in 2014 which helped generate momentum for President Obama's executive action on immigration reform. This executive action would allow up to 5 million immigrants to stay in the US with their families and contribute more to the economy. The report details how NCLR used advocacy, programs, engagement with affiliates, and coalition building to pave the way for this executive action on immigration, which was potentially the most significant progress on immigration reform in 20 years.
Speaking up, taking action to improve education for allEveryday Democracy
Across the country, people are concerned with how our children are doing in school. In Arkansas, the school boards association has been running “study circles” allowing local residents to weigh in on educational decisions in their community since 1998.
This document discusses strategies for promoting civic engagement among youth, including connecting youth to caring adults and empowering youth leadership. It also outlines several programs and activities that encourage civic participation, such as community service, arts, and youth-led organizations focused on social and political issues. The goal is to develop skills like critical thinking and empower youth to create positive change in their communities.
Why Are Americans Obsessed With Their Cars?Farid Sharifi
Americans rely heavily on personal automobiles for transportation compared to other developed nations where public transportation is more widely used. The U.S. focused on building an extensive automobile infrastructure in the 20th century including highways, while public transportation declined. This led to lower population densities and suburban sprawl that made public transportation less viable. Political and economic factors have also discouraged investment in public transportation in the U.S., negatively impacting mobility for those without access to cars.
The document discusses several concepts related to managing globalization and creating a more sustainable future, including living within ecological means, developing a global conscience, and balancing free trade with fair trade. It notes that countries like the UK and US have very large ecological footprints and consume more than what could be supported globally if everyone had their lifestyle. Taking steps towards fair trade, ethical shopping, and reducing food miles are presented as ways to help offset environmental costs of global trade. Developing a shared global awareness of social and environmental issues through improved communication is also seen as important for managing changes related to globalization.
This document summarizes key points from a presentation by Radhika Fox on transportation equity. It discusses how inadequate and inequitable transportation access hinders economic opportunities, with low-income households spending a large portion of their income on transportation. It outlines principles for promoting equitable transportation policies, such as affordable options for all, fair access to jobs, and healthy communities. The presentation argues for a new transportation bill that invests in public transit, complete streets, and sustainable communities to create jobs and improve access, health, and outcomes.
The document discusses transportation equity and case studies of equitable community engagement in transit planning in the Twin Cities region. It provides examples of how community groups have advocated for inclusive transit planning processes that consider environmental justice and benefit nearby low-income communities and communities of color. The case studies illustrate efforts to ensure equitable access to transit stops, affordable housing, and job opportunities associated with new transit lines.
Turning Tough Around: Skills for Managing Critics AICP CM 1.5
Critics. Tough crowds. We've all faced them! Imagine turning those critics into supporters -- or at least respectful, constructive participants in your projects. Learn how to set up your team for success by carefully structuring meetings and messages. Explore ways to manage difficult crowds and sticky situations while still building long-term relationships and agency credibility. Hear stories and strategies from people who've survived -- and even thrive on -- divisive public processes.
Moderator: Allison Brooks, Director, Bay Area Joint Policy Center, Oakland, California
Ken Snyder, CEO/President, PlaceMatters, Denver, Colorado
David A Goldberg, Communications Director, Transportation For America, Washington, DC
Salima (Sam) O'Connell, Public Involvement Manager, Metro Transit, St. Louis Park, Minnesota
The document discusses equitable development along regional transitways. It provides case studies on affordable housing developments along light rail lines in Minneapolis and discusses ensuring environmental justice communities benefit from transit expansion. Community engagement was key to addressing concerns along different corridors and shaping development. Equitable policies discussed include inclusionary zoning, land banking, workforce goals, and community benefits agreements.
This document discusses next steps for building a connected super region between New Orleans and Baton Rouge through improved public transportation. It recommends expanding education on transit and transit-oriented development, developing a commuter rail implementation plan, forming an advisory council, prioritizing walkability and bike access, conducting a transit-oriented development strategic plan, and performing a cost-benefit analysis. Examples from other regions like Denver and Minneapolis are provided. Federal grant opportunities are also outlined. Working together regionally is emphasized as no single city can accomplish this transformation alone.
Presentation by Transportation for America (www.t4america.org) for the South Dakota Bicycle Summit, Jan. 21-22 in Pierre, SD. Sponsored by the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition (www.sdbicyclecoalition.org).
The document discusses public transportation in the United States and challenges facing its growth. It provides an overview of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which advocates for more funding and pro-transit policies. While public transportation ridership is growing, funding challenges remain as capital and operating needs exceed available funds. Future population growth and aging may increase demand, but securing adequate long-term funding sources will be critical for public transportation to meet this demand and address energy, environmental, and mobility challenges.
The document summarizes the key recommendations from a conference on improving America's transportation system. It identifies 10 recommendations, including addressing the immediate funding crisis, developing alternative user fees to the gas tax, directing stimulus spending towards long-term job creation and competitiveness, clarifying decision-making authority, adopting a capital budget, taking an integrated intermodal approach, reducing urban congestion, encouraging public-private partnerships with oversight, reforming the project approval process, and improving transportation data collection. The conference brought together over 80 experts to develop a comprehensive agenda for policymakers.
This document summarizes the many benefits of Complete Streets, which are streets designed to enable safe and convenient travel for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and motorists of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets can benefit older adults and people with disabilities by improving accessibility, benefit children by encouraging physical activity and independence, improve safety for all users by reducing speeds and adding infrastructure like sidewalks and crosswalks, promote better health by facilitating active transportation, boost local economies through increased business and property values, and create more livable communities.
Presented by Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Executive Director Kevin Hardman on October 5, 2010, at the La Crosse complete streets workshop sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the La Crosse County Health Department.
Community Conversations: 2035 Regional Transportation PlanNashville Area MPO
The document presents a 2035 Regional Transportation Plan for Middle Tennessee. It outlines 3 major policy initiatives: 1) A bold new vision for mass transit including rapid transit corridors and commuter rail. 2) Support for active transportation and walkable communities through a regional bike and pedestrian network. 3) Preservation and enhancement of strategic roadway corridors through road widening and improvements. The plan calls for $3.2 billion in transportation investments to accommodate projected population growth and increasing diversity in the region.
1) The document discusses how lower-income residents displaced from inner cities by gentrification often relocate to suburbs that lack robust public transit, creating barriers to employment opportunities and social services.
2) It proposes pilot programs using shared mobility services like Uber and Lyft to provide "first-mile last-mile" connections from suburbs to public transit stations and job centers to improve access for these residents.
3) Looking to the future, it argues transit agencies should evolve from fixed-route providers to "mobility managers" leveraging new technologies like shared, autonomous, and electric vehicles to better serve community needs.
This is the presentation Michael Skipper, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Office, delivered to the Transit Citizen Leadership Academy of Septemb
This document provides an overview of innovative mobility technologies and services that are transforming transportation in Massachusetts, including information technologies, shared mobility services, and autonomous vehicles. It discusses both the promise and challenges of innovative mobility, such as reducing congestion and emissions while ensuring equitable access. The document proposes a public policy framework to maximize the benefits of innovative mobility through goals, pilots, data sharing, and other policies, in order to build a healthier, more equitable transportation system.
This document introduces a report that argues equity is necessary for sustainable economic growth. It notes the previous growth model was unsustainable and exacerbated inequality. A new model is needed to address challenges like slow job growth, wage stagnation, and racial disparities. The report will examine these economic issues, demographic shifts showing growing diversity, and steps toward an equity-driven growth agenda based on innovative local strategies. Achieving equity requires addressing entrenched racial inequities and will be difficult but is crucial for America's economic future.
Effective Strategies for Shifting Behaviors, Presentation 1Trailnet
This document summarizes efforts over the past 15 years to promote active transportation like walking, biking, and transit in the Nashville, TN region. It describes the formation of advocacy groups in the late 1990s and early 2000s that helped increase funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and greenways. Surveys showed residents prefer improving transit and walkability over road expansion. As a result, the region's transportation plan now allocates more funding to active transportation and includes sidewalks and bike lanes in most road projects. Partnerships across different levels of government and ongoing education efforts aim to continue progress.
Effective Strategies for Shifting Behaviors Trailnet
This document summarizes the shift toward more sustainable transportation in the Nashville region over the past two decades. It describes the formation of advocacy groups in the late 1990s that promoted active transportation. Major plans from 2003 onward allocated more funding for biking, walking and transit infrastructure. Recent transportation policies now require projects to consider multi-modal accommodations like sidewalks. Public surveys show support for improved transit and walkable communities over new road construction.
This document summarizes the key ideas of the Smart Growth movement, which aims to curb urban sprawl and encourage more sustainable community development. It discusses how sprawl has negatively impacted public health by promoting sedentary lifestyles and increased traffic accidents. The Smart Growth movement advocates for more compact, mixed-use development with diverse transportation options to make communities more walkable and bikeable. Examples of successful Smart Growth initiatives are provided at the local, state, and national level, including Portland, Oregon's light rail system and Milwaukee, Wisconsin's riverfront redevelopment.
This document provides background information on auto rickshaws and their drivers. It discusses that auto rickshaws provide an important transportation service but drivers face many challenges including increasing costs, lack of benefits, and health issues from long hours of driving. The document examines the socioeconomic conditions and health problems of auto rickshaw drivers in Dombivli City in particular. It explores issues around their living conditions, income stability, and lack of access to government welfare programs and healthcare. The historical background section discusses competing claims about the origins of auto rickshaws, tracing them back to a German patent for a 3-wheeled vehicle in 1886.
The University of Portland offers an Employee Home Grant Program to positively reinforce their commitment to environmental sustainability and build an affordable community for faculty and staff. The program provides grants of $10,000-$15,000 to around 450 eligible full-time employees to purchase a home near campus and commit to alternative transportation. The goals are to recruit and retain employees, improve local livability and involvement, and decrease commuting to meet clean air mandates. The program has seen success, with over $1 million invested and 127 active or fully forgiven grants so far.
The Hometown Home Loan Program was created in 1994 as a partnership between HomeStreet Bank and several employers and municipalities to help employees purchase homes. The program provides no-cost homeownership education, counseling and flexible loan programs with down payment assistance to address barriers to homeownership like affordability and lack of knowledge. Since inception, the program has helped over 9,000 homeowners with $11.8 million in closing cost savings and $17.2 million in down payment assistance. Employer-assisted housing programs benefit employers through improved recruitment and retention as well as communities by increasing affordable housing options.
This document discusses challenges and innovations in self-help housing in the Pacific Northwest. It outlines that as of June 2011, 45 organizations had delivered over 2,300 homes worth $35.1 million through a self-help housing delivery system across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Key challenges mentioned include lower appraisals, buyer reluctance, and tighter credit. Innovations highlighted include the Lopez CLT, a land trust and housing co-op that aims for zero-net energy homes and won national awards, Next Step which promotes well-designed manufactured housing, and Hayden Canyon, a development with 1800 new homes where the developer committed 10% of units to workforce housing through a community land trust.
The document discusses the importance of workforce housing and an approach to addressing the issue. It notes that urbanization is increasing the need for affordable housing as cities grow. It also describes an organization called OneBuild that aims to impact the workforce housing issue through an integrated construction delivery system designed to increase efficiency and customize housing designs to reduce costs. The goal is to make housing more affordable through this approach.
The Portland Housing Center runs an Employer Assisted Homeownership Program that works with employers to help their employees purchase homes. The program benefits employers by increasing productivity, reducing costs, and improving community relations and employee morale. It offers employees homebuying counseling, financial education classes, down payment assistance, and other services. After 3 years, the program has 7 participating employers, helped 130 households, and resulted in 79 households purchasing homes. The program aims to expand its services, employer partnerships, and grant opportunities for employees.
The Hometown Home Loan Program was created in 1994 as a partnership between HomeStreet Bank and several employers and municipalities to help employees purchase homes. The program provides no-cost homeownership education, counseling and flexible loan programs with down payment assistance to address barriers to homeownership like affordability and lack of knowledge. Since inception, the program has helped over 9,000 homeowners with $11.8 million in closing cost savings and $17.2 million in down payment assistance. Employer-assisted housing programs benefit employers through improved recruitment and retention as well as communities by increasing affordable housing options.
Proud Ground provides permanently affordable homeownership through legal agreements that ensure homes can be resold at affordable prices, maintaining affordability over time. When a homeowner decides to sell, a resale formula allows them to receive a fair return on investment while keeping the home priced for low and moderate income buyers. Proud Ground homes operate like traditional homeownership with mortgages, equity accumulation, and tax benefits, but have much lower purchase prices in exchange for restricted resale values. The organization works with brokers and employers to promote the program.
City First Homes provides permanently affordable homes to buyers earning up to 120% AMI through a shared appreciation model. It offers down payment assistance loans of $75,000 at a fixed 3.79% interest rate over 40 years, with interest-only payments for the first 7 years. When homeowners sell, they keep 100% of paid principal and improvements as well as 25% of home appreciation, with little to no selling fees. Since 2010, City First Homes has sold 33 units and proven successful in urban areas, though introducing shared appreciation and scaling up remain ongoing challenges. It offers 6 key benefits including lower monthly costs, reduced upfront costs, qualifying for larger homes, and the ability to build wealth through equity and tax benefits
The Community Reinvestment Project (CORE) aims to convert government-owned properties into affordable housing for essential workers like first responders and teachers. CORE seeks to provide affordable housing, generate revenue for local governments, and streamline the process of selling properties to revitalize communities. The project framework was created by PAR, which brings in strategic partners while local associations handle public outreach. Current projects include a pilot with Philadelphia and partnerships in Reading to list additional properties through realtor support. Challenges include slow progress, but successes include strengthened partnerships.
The document discusses workforce housing plans and policies for Tysons Corner, Fairfax County, Virginia. It outlines requirements for developers to include affordable housing units to receive bonus densities, with targets of 20% affordable units within a quarter mile of metro stations and 16% inclusive of bonuses beyond a quarter mile. Income tiers for affordable units range from below 50% to 120% of area median income. The plans provide flexibility and encourage creative strategies to meet housing needs. Non-residential developments must contribute funds towards affordable housing. Panelists at a workforce housing summit discussed benefits to employers and strategies for viable development pro formas.
This document summarizes the campaign to defeat ballot question 2 in Massachusetts, which would have changed the state's affordable housing law (Chapter 40B). It describes the campaign's structure, messaging strategies, grassroots outreach, and communications efforts. Through a diverse coalition, public polling, and tailored messaging, the "No on 2" campaign was able to defeat the ballot measure 58% to 42% and maintain the existing affordable housing law.
The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation (NJARHOF) is a 501(c)(3) organization that fosters opportunities for affordable housing in New Jersey. It provides funding to other non-profits that offer programs like homebuyer education and counseling. NJARHOF's "Helping Hands Towards Homeownership" initiative aims to educate potential homebuyers and realtors about available housing resources, such as financial literacy workshops, homebuyer counseling, and tax benefit classes. The organization also publishes a Housing Opportunity Resource Guide listing state and federal housing assistance programs.
The document discusses the Long Island Housing Partnership's (LIHP) employer-assisted housing program. It summarizes how the program works to provide down payment assistance grants to employees through employer matching contributions combined with other state and federal funds administered by LIHP. Employers benefit by retaining and recruiting employees through improved affordability and employee satisfaction. LIHP guides both employers and employees through the process, from establishing an employer program to homebuying counseling and coordination of funds. The program has helped over 330 employees of over 130 employers purchase homes through more than $12 million in grants.
The document summarizes a regional forum on workforce housing and discusses the community land trust (CLT) model. It provides statistics on CLTs in the US, including $220 million in assets and supporting 1,500 apartments. The Champlain Housing Trust in Vermont is highlighted as an example, having 500 homes in a shared equity program. It discusses the CLT maintaining affordable housing and preventing foreclosures more successfully than traditional models.
The Philadelphia Home • Buy • Now program provides matching grants of up to $4,000 for home purchases in Philadelphia. The program aims to help employers recruit, retain, and reward employees by providing housing benefits to help them become homeowners. No income limits or geographic restrictions apply. The funds can be used for closing costs, down payments, prepaid interest, or mortgage insurance. Between 2004-2009, the program assisted 211 home purchases with $74,000 in median household income and $134,000 in median home cost.
The document discusses sustainable housing goals and strategies for the Metro Boston region. It aims to promote more equitable and affordable housing options, increase production of smaller and transit-accessible units, and prevent displacement. Key strategies include developing regional and local housing plans, increasing affordable housing production, diversifying the housing supply and connecting residents to opportunities. The plan also involves assessing current and future housing needs, targets for production amounts and types, and identifying actions to ensure future needs are met.
This document discusses a study examining the growing costs of housing and transportation for working families in Boston and the surrounding region. The study looks at the heavy financial burden of housing and transportation costs on area residents, how it impacts their neighborhoods, and its effects on the environment. The document was written by Jeffrey Lubell, Executive Director of the Center for Housing Policy, and provides his contact information.
This document summarizes the Morgan Woods affordable housing development project on Martha's Vineyard. Some key points:
1) Morgan Woods created 60 affordable housing units, nearly doubling the island's inventory, to house year-round residents who provide essential services but can no longer afford to live there.
2) The development overcame many logistical challenges to transport modular units by barge and complete construction efficiently. Thoughtful design has created a family-friendly community environment.
3) The success of Morgan Woods has helped the developer, The Community Builders, build a strong reputation on the Cape and Islands and take on additional affordable housing projects.
The document discusses housing affordability in the context of the recent housing crisis. It makes three key points:
1) While falling home prices have led to record housing affordability levels, most households entered the downturn already facing high housing costs and few can take advantage of lower prices.
2) Measures of housing affordability and burden show that affordability has only improved to early 2000 levels and many households, especially low- and moderate-income, still face high housing costs.
3) The housing affordability problem is particularly acute in Massachusetts compared to other markets. Most households cannot benefit from lower home prices due to existing high housing cost burdens.
The STAR Community Index is a framework developed by ICLEI-USA to help local governments measure and advance sustainability across the three pillars of environmental, economic and social equity. It provides a standardized rating system for communities to track their performance, identify areas for improvement, and foster competition and innovation around sustainability goals. The STAR Community Index was built with input from over 160 volunteers and has engaged 10 pilot communities to test its tools and online platform.
More from National Housing Conference & the Center for Housing Policy (20)
5. The poorest fifth of Americans spend 42% of their annual household budget on automobile ownership—more than twice the national average.
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7. Transportation Equity in America Communities Struggle to Provide Affordable, Reliable Public Transit: In more than 110 cities, public transit routes that residents depend on to get to work, shop, or take their children to school are at risk. According to the American Public Transportation Association, more than 80% of the nation’s transit systems are considering or have recently enacted fare increases or service cuts, including reductions in rush-hour service, off-peak service and geographic coverage
8. Transportation Equity in America Past Transportation Practices Have Created Disproportionate Health Impacts on Disadvantaged Communities: Nationwide, 61% of African American children, 67% of Asian American children, and 69% of Latino children live in areas that exceed air quality standards for ozone, compared with 50.8% of white children. Hispanics suffer a pedestrian death rate 62% higher than non-Hispanic whites, and African Americans have an even higher rate at almost 70% compared to non-Hispanic whites.
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10. Freedom Riders – challenged state segregation laws by riding public transportation into the South.
15. Great Communities Collaborative The goal of the Collaborative is for all people in the Bay Area to live in complete communities, affordable across all incomes, with nearby access to quality transit by 2030.
16. Seattle/King County “Our economy depends on the ability of everyone to contribute, and we should remove barriers that limit the ability of some to fulfill their potential. When all can participate, we can have true competition that leads to excellence. Our recent Equity and Social Justice Ordinance ensures that equity and social justice are part of the very fabric of our daily work at King County, and it is the next step in advancing the efforts of county employees to remove barriers to equity." -- King County Executive Dow Constantine
25. Projected to have Weekday Ridership of over 40,000 by 2030. Dcstreetsblog.org
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27. City’s master plans: Mayor Williams in Youngtown, Ohio; Cory Booker in Newark, New Jersey; Ron Sims in Kings County; Ron Dellums in Oakland, California.
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29. The Next Transportation Authorization: Working for Equitable Reform Transportation for America is the largest, most diverse coalition working for a bold new vision for transportation that guarantees our freedom to move however we choose and leads to a stronger economy, greater energy security, cleaner environment, and a healthier America for all of us. The Equity Caucus at Transportation for America — formed by the nation’s leading civil rights, community development, racial justice, economic justice, faith-based, health, housing, labor, environmental justice, tribal, public interest, women’s, and transportation organizations — drives transportation policies that advance economic and social equity in America.PolicyLink serves as Chair of the Equity Caucus at Transportation for America.
30. Members of the Equity Caucus at Transportation for America
31. Equity Caucus Policy Principles Create affordable transportation options for all people. Ensure fair access to quality jobs, workforce development, and contracting opportunities in the transportation industry. Promote healthy, safe, and inclusive communities. Invest equitably and focus on results.
32. Policy Idea #1 Affordable Transportation Options for All People Preserve and expand resources for biking, walking, and public transportation Give local communities flexibility to use federal funds to help operate local public transportation systems
33. Policy Idea #2 Job Access and Job Quality Establish a Construction Careers Program Create a Youth Transit Jobs Corps Expand On the Job Training Program
34. Policy Idea #3 Healthy, Safe, and Inclusive Communities Complete Streets Safe Routes to School Clean and Safe Ports Health Impact Assessment Pilot Projects Sustainable Communities Funding
35. Policy Idea #4 Invest Equitably and Focus on Results Strategic planning that leads to better outcomes and more accountable decision making Strengthen civil rights enforcement
36. Healthy Communities, Strong Regions, A Prosperous America November 8-11, 2011 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center For more information and registration visit: www.PolicyLink.org/Summit 24
37. Resources PolicyLink www.policylink.org (Publications : All Aboard!: Making Equity and Inclusion Central to Federal Transportation Policy; The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in America; and An Engine of Opportunity: A User’s Guide to Advocate for Transportation Equity in the 2009 Recovery Act) Back of the Bus: Race, Mass Transit and Inequality http://www.transportationnation.org/backofthebus/ Beyond the Motor City: http://video.pbs.org/video/1409024983/ Equity Caucus at Transportation for America www.t4america.org/equitycaucus
38. For More Information Anita M. HairstonPolicyLinkanita@policylink.org202-906-8034
Editor's Notes
For working-poor homeowners, nearly 25% of their household income is consumed by housing and commuting expenses compared with just 15.3% for other households. 28% of public transportation users have incomes of $15,000 or less and 55 % have incomes between $15,000 and $50,000. Households earning $20,000 to $35,000 annually and located far from job centers spend 70% of their incomes on housing and transportation combined.[x] A family making $35,000 a year, living in walkable neighborhoods with good transit can save $5,000 dollars each year.[xi]The cost burden of commuting for the working poor is 6.1% compared with 3.8% for other workers. By 2012, nearly two-thirds of the 100,000 federally assisted affordable housing units located near public transportation will have disappeared.[iii])Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) African Americans lives in a household where no one owns a car and 13.7% of Latinos live in households without a car, while only 4.6 % of white Americans live in a household without a car.. Nearly two-thirds of all residents in small towns and rural communities have few if any transportation options: 41% have no access to transit; and another 25% live in areas with below-average transit services.[ix] The Benefits of Complete Streets 6: Complete Streets Fight Climate Change! National Complete Streets Coalition. Retrieved from http://www.completestreets.org/webdocs/factsheets/cs-climate.pdf . (Accessed 07-14-2010).[x] Barbara Lipman, A Heavy Load: The Combined Housing and Transportation Burdens of Working Families (Chicago, IL: Center for Housing Policy, 2006).[xi] “Where You Live Impacts Affordability.” Reconnecting America. 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/public/factoids/171. (Accessed 07/07/2010).[iii] Reconnecting America and National Housing Trust, Preserving Opportunities: Saving Affordable Homes Near Transit (Oakland, CA: Reconnecting America, 2008). Cities included in the study were: Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, New York City, Portland, St. Louis, and Seattle.Brookings Institution and UC-Berkeley, Socioeconomic Differences in Household Automobile Ownership RatesAmerican Public Transportation Association. “Mobility for America’s Small Urban and Rural Communities.” Retrieved from: http://www.publictransportation.org/reports/asp/mobility_rural.asp. (Accessed 07/28/2010).
Public transportation is a lifeline to opportunity. And yet, at a time when transit ridership in our country has reached a record high the mobility of countless Americans has been stymied as transit agencies, confronted with sky-rocketing deficits, are forced to slash services, raise fares and lay-off hundreds of workers.According to the Amalgamated Transit Union, several additional sets of service cuts or fare hikes have been announced:In Oakland, CA: 7% of service will be cut (on top of previous rounds of cuts)In Pittsburgh, PA: 35% of service will be cut and fares will be raisedIn New York City: door-to-door service for seniors and people with disabilities will be eliminatedIn Charleston, SC: All bus routes were eliminated.In Denver, CO: Fares will be raised for the 3rd time in four years.In Atlanta, for example, nearly half of the 100,000 commuters who use MARTA to get to work each day say they don’t have access to alternate transportation options. This is a national crisis—another dimension of how the recession is effecting everyday Americans.The impact of these hikes and cuts are creating further hardship for many people already struggling with mounting costs of housing, healthcare, education, and other expenses. But for low-income people and communities of color hit first and worst by these harsh economic times, the effects are even more severe.
Civil Rights Movement in 1960sBasic human rights – equal human beings.Voting AccessEqual EducationEqual HousingJobs without discriminationAccess to quality Health FacilitiesFor decades, advocates for low-income people and communities of color have pushed to reform our nation’s transportation policy. Whether it was Rosa Parks being arrested on a Montgomery bus, the Freedom Riders who challenged state segregation laws by riding public transportation in the South, or the role that busing played in school desegregation—transportation has long been a fundamental arena for civil rights and economic justice advocacy. Plessy vs. Ferguson challenged the Separate Car Act of the Reconstruction period.The challenges persist today…
Some communities bear disproportionate burden from transportation system.ProblemNovember 2000 - West Harlem Environmental Action, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, filed a complaint with the federal Department of Transportation against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority: locating most of Manhattan's diesel bus facilities in minority neighborhoods constitutes racial discrimination.75% of children had visible traces of a substance indicating exposure to dangerous diesel fumes in their bodies. Twenty-five percent of children under the age of 13 in Central Harlem have asthma—more than five times the national rate.The level of diesel pollution in the air was directly related to bus traffic, with the highest levels of found around the Manhattanville Bus Depot. SolutionMTA will replace the existing depot with a new green building that has environmentally friendly features. The new depot will be a three-story, 70-foot above-ground structure built to accommodate 150 buses – 25 more than the current depot. All buses will use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, and many of the buses will be hybrid-electric vehicles or other low-emissions technology buses. They will work toward LEED certification as they build the depot. The US Green Building Council created LEED, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design to set guidelines for construction that benefits the ecosystem
Our transportation system must move people and goods. ProblemMany of our nation's port communities are in face dual challenges:Traffic congestion from high volumes of trucks moving good from ports to highways.Poor air quality due to trucks high truck volumes, outdated vehicles and idling trucks The EPA estimates that 87 million Americans live and work in regions near major port facilities that violate federal air quality standards. Each day they are exposed to toxic diesel exhaust from polluting port trucks, which are contributing to deadly diseases like asthma, heart disease, and cancer. Solution The Port of Los Angeles' Clean Truck Program put 8,500 new clean diesel and alternative fuel vehicles into service, and emissions were reduced by 80 percent in the surrounding communities. If Los Angeles can do it, there is no reason other port communities can’t combine clean air with quality jobs. There are groups that are working at the intersection of transportation justice and environmental justice. Over 100 + organizations have joined the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports and endorsed the Clean Ports Act of 2010.
In early 2010, the Collaborative garnered initial funding from the regional transportation agency to launch a $40 million fund that will support property acquisition for 1,100 to 3,800 new affordable homes located near rail or bus stops. The Great Communities Collaborative is a unique cooperative relationship between four Bay Area nonprofit organizations – Greenbelt Alliance, the Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, TransForm, and Urban Habitat – and the national nonprofit Reconnecting America. The East Bay Community Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, and The Silicon Valley Community Foundation are also part of the collaborative.Members of the collaborative are combining their respective expertise and working with partners around the region to:Shape plans for specific transit-oriented developments in Bay Area communities and encourage resident participation in planning for those developments. Create tools that will help community leaders make better decisions about transit-oriented developments across the Bay Area and help citizens better understand, participate in, and influence plans for TOD. Secure increased private and public funding that will help to catalyze sustainable and equitable transit-oriented development in the Bay Area.
King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance Launched in February 2008Directs:The integration of social justice practices into the county’s strategic, operational, and business plans;; management and reporting systems; and budgetsEstablishes an inter-branch team to include all agencies and branches of county government to facilitate accountability for and collaborate on equity and social justice work across county government; and,Reporting annually to King County elected leadership, employees, and the public on status and trends in equity and results related to the implementation of the ordinance.Implementation measures have included:Three Town Hall meetings with elected officials, county officials, community members and community leaders to move towards a common understanding of equity and social justice and jointly searching for solutions and held a dialogue about the underlying causes of inequities;Development of Equity Impact Review ToolTransportation Department actively engaged with community organizations, schools, businesses, and residents to elicit feedback about possible changes to bus routes in southeast Seattle and SW King County in light of the new light rail service—activities included more than 12 sounding board meetings, mailings, multi-lingual hotline, questionnaires and materials translated in seven languages, numerous community discussions, public speaking engagements and other intensive community outreach activitiesInternal education and training of county staff about equity, social justice—focusing primarily on the underlying causes of inequities and spurring conversations amongst staff on how best to solve these problemsDept of Transportation is currently developing a tool to prioritize non-motorized transportation improvements based on transportation, health, air quality, and equity outcomesDept of Transportation is working to expand the supply of affordable housing within close proximity to transit, housing, recreation, and employment centers through public/private partnerships for TODEstablished ORCA fare card (can be used for light rail and bus in the region) as a response to community interestsWhat makes it different/innovative: recognizes that equity needs to be addressed through multiple channels within the Department of Transportation, from prioritizing inclusive and meaningful community engagement in diverse communities to adopting policies and procedures that prioritize transportation infrastructure and spending on modes that serve low income communities and communities of color to providing extensive internal training and education about the causes of inequity and providing places for employees to discuss how they might address these inequities in their own work
In response to a stakeholder process led by the Transportation Equity Network, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) used apprentice programs, project labor agreements, and contractor incentives in the reconstruction of several bridges, interchanges, and highway lanes on Interstate 64 in St. Louis, Missouri. MoDOT allocated $2.5 million of the project budget for contractor incentives and a workforce diversity program, including a new Construction Preparation Center that was operated by MoDOT, local contractors and contractors of color, union representatives, and community groups. The project was completed three weeks early and $11 million under the original budget estimate of $535 million. 27 percent of work hours were completed, performed by people of color and women. In addition, 90 apprentices gained highway construction training and 80 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises received contracts with MoDOT, exceeding MoDOT’s goal of 16 percent participation by disadvantaged businesses.
BackgroundPolicyLink is working with two organizations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area (ISAIAH and Take Action Minnesota) to conduct a health impact assessment of proposed land-use changes related to a new light-rail transit line that will connect the Twin Cities. For significant transportation investment like these, we should ask ourselves How will local residents --particularly those in disadvantaged communities --be affected by decisions associated with this investment? The low income communities of color that surround the proposed light rail line have received more of the burdens of transportation investments (highways, splitting communities, etc.) than the benefits. Goals of the project:Assess the impacts of the proposed re-zoning plan on underlying conditions that determine health.Maximize positive health benefits in the decision making process.Empower local communities to effectively and meaningfully engage in the re-zoning process. Definition of health impact assessmenta process to systematically judge the potential effects of a policy, plan, program or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population. HIA identifies appropriate actions to manage those effects. - International Association for Impact Assessment, 2006 In conducting this HIA, our core values include: Equity Racial justice Community empowermentCollaborationAccountabilityScientific integrity What we found in our analysisHealthy EconomyNumber of jobs likely to significantly increaseLimited employment/income relief for those with limited educationPotential increase in customer base for small and minority-owned businessRisk for displacement as corridor redevelops and commercial rents riseAffordable HousingHousing affordability is likely to decrease as property values riseIncreased housing cost burdens may result in displacementIncrease in gentrification of neighborhoods as redevelopment occursSafe and Sustainable TransportationIncrease in households in the corridor will increase access to transit and increase demand for and usage of public transportationMore people will be walking through unsafe intersections, potentially increasing the number of injuries and fatalities What policies we recommended for the re-zoning planInclusionary Zoning PolicyDensity BonusInterim Commercial Parking on Vacant LandInclusion of Goals and Objectives Related to Community GoalsFirst Source Hiring
New way of thinking of civic engagement
Smarter transportation investments can unleash the under-realized economic power of communities across America. If 20 of our nation’s metropolitan areas shifted 50% of their highway funds to transit, they would create over 1.1 million new transit-related jobs over 5 years—without a single dollar of new spending. (Transportation Equity Network, 2010) Every $1 billion invested in public transportation capital/operations creates or supports: 36,000 jobs $3.6 billion in business salesNearly $500 million in federal, state and local tax revenues (Economic Development Research Group) Repair work on roads and bridges generates 16% more jobs than construction of new roads and bridges. (Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Mass.)
Chaired by PolicyLink, the Equity Caucus is a broad, diverse coalition of over 80 national, state and local organizations including leading civil rights, community development, racial justice, economic justice, faith-based, health, housing, labor, environmental justice, tribal, public interest, women’s groups and transportation organizations. Together, these groups are: driving transportation policies to advance economic and social equity in America. informing decision-makers of the shared interests and diverse benefits of a reformed transportation system that ensures economic and social opportunity for all people and communities. lifting up the voices of low-income people and communities of color advocating for reforms that are necessary to create communities of opportunity through federal transportation policy.
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Transportation provides access to good-paying jobs both in the construction of all types of projects—highways, transit, roads, and bridges—and in the operation of the system. Proactive policies are needed that establish and uphold job quality protections and standards, provide resources for affordable job training and career pathways for all people (including women, people of color, low-income individuals, and youth), and open up opportunities for disadvantaged businesses to access contracting opportunities in the transportation sector. Several ideas include:Establish a construction careers program for the transportation sector that would:Target jobs to local, low-income workers. Contractors receiving federal transportation dollars would have to ensure that a percentage of project work hours are worked by local, low-income employees (This would build upon and strengthen the “Sense of Congress” on workforce development that was part of the last transportation authorization (SAFETEA-LU Section 1920); Ensure quality job training opportunities by maximizing use of registered apprentices toincrease opportunities for disadvantaged workers to get a foothold in the industry;Support quality pre-apprenticeship training programs and recruitment by dedicating a certain percentage of federal highway, transit, and rail dollars to creating a pipeline of workers ready to step into apprenticeship programs and construction careers. (This would build upon an existing workforce investment provision (US Codes, Title 23, Section 140) which allows ½ percent of all federal highway dollars to be used for the recruitment, training, and retention of underrepresented workers.);Use Community Workforce Agreements to connect all the dots. Projects achieve timely delivery and meet targeted hiring and training goals when transportation agencies and contractors establish uniform labor standards through community workforce agreements. A similar proposal was included in the HR 2454: American Clean Energy and Security Act and HR 4929: Enhancing Opportunities for Main Street Act of 2010.Create a Youth Transit Job Corps toretain, recruit, and prepare young adults from underrepresented segments of the population for jobs in public transportation. (This is consistent with the proposal that Rep. Jerrold Nadler introduced: HR 929, The Transportation Job Corps Act of 2011 to create a career-ladder grant program within the Federal Transit Administration at the US Department of Transportation.) Enhance the USDOT On-The-Job Training Program to applyto transit, railways, and all other surface transportation projects in order to increase the workforce available to efficiently complete these projects and increase the participation of women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals. (Currently the program only applies to Federal Highway Administration-funded projects.)
Complete Streets A Complete Streets policy ensures that transportation corridors are designed with all users in mind—drivers, public transit passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The next transportation authorization should require states and local governments to adopt Complete Streets policies and use Complete Streets practices in federally-funded projects (as proposed within current legislation under consideration in Congress and as supported by a policy statements by the USDOT) Safe Routes to School Program The last transportation bill created the Safe Routes to School Program that provides school-age children safe, accessible, and healthy ways to get to school. In 2009, this program received $183 million. With demand for safe walking environments increasing in communities across the country, the next transportation bill should preserve and/or increase funding (some early proposals have recommended $600M); expand eligibility to include high schools; and dedicate a percentage of funding to create safe routes to bus stops, as the current legislation under consideration in Congress proposes.“Fix it First”Target transportation spending toward maintenance and repair of crumbling transportation infrastructure in existing communities to ensure that it is safe and well-maintained, prior to spending money on road and bridge expansion projects. Health impact assessments Establish a pilot program using health impact assessments to evaluate the individual and community health outcomes of transportation projects in urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities.Green, Clean Safe PortsRequire and fund a greener and cleaner freight system in ports, on rail, and via truck, to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and support local solutions to freight transportation challenges.
Federal transportation funds should be distributed in a manner that is transparent, accountable, democratic, and with a focus on achieving clearly articulated outcomes that ensure the economic prosperity, health, and vitality of all communities. This can be accomplished by establishing criteria and aligning federal funding to national transportation outcomes such as improved mobility for people and goods, access, transit ridership, health and safety, as well as reduced household costs, carbon emissions, and vehicle miles traveled. It is also important to actively enforce civil rights provisions to ensure fair and equitable access to the benefits of our transportation system; utilize new revenue to expand or improve mobility and access for underserved communities; and improve accountability and public engagement in decision making about transportation projects.
Talking points: This is the FOURTH national summit in Detroit This is an urgent, pivotal moment for the Equity MovementIt is a signature event for PolicyLink One of the most diverse policy gatherings in the countryWill bring together thousands of advocates, organizers, policy makers, funders, public officials, and more Thousands from the Equity Movement will gather to learn, share, and connect Healthy Communities, Strong Regions, A Prosperous AmericaFor more information, please visit PolicyLink.org.