Transportation For America » Senate Committee approves forward-looking Livable Communities Act

Senate Committee approves forward-looking Livable Communities Act

August 3, 2010
By Transportation for America

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs today approved Chairman Christopher Dodd’s (D-CT) Livable Communities Act, S. 1619. The Act would take unprecedented steps to help communities deal with a range of critical issues, from traffic congestion to housing affordability to neighborhood stability.

“We applaud the Committee for taking this major step forward on behalf of communities both small and large, and for American families looking for affordable homes in healthy neighborhoods with reliable transportation options,” said Transportation for America Director James Corless.

“The broad appeal and need for this legislation was evident, as the Act won support from Senators from states with large metro areas, such as Charles Schumer of New York and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and from more rural states, including Jon Tester of Montana and Tim Johnson of South Dakota. We urge the full Senate to follow their lead and give final passage to this important Act.”

The Livable Communities Act would:

Provide grants for comprehensive planning to communities looking to integrate transportation, housing, economic development and environmental issues;
Set aside $3.75 billion over three years for competitive grants to fund implementation of projects identified in these integrated regional plans;
Create an Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities to bring together the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, along with other federal agencies, to coordinate federal efforts to support development that provides long-term economic and environmental benefits;
Create an Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to foster sustainable development, lead sustainability initiatives and provide technical assistance to communities seeking to plan for a more sustainable future.