Smith, the former 16-year Republican mayor of Meridian, Mississippi and President and CEO of Reconnecting America, was one of 40 transportation experts testifying before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit this week.

Pointing to today’s release of our report assessing the condition of the nation’s bridges, Smith emphasized T4 America’s dual mission of repairing the infrastructure we have while building a transportation system for the 21st century.

He spoke about his own experience leading Meridian and seeing first-hand how improved transportation options improve quality of life in smaller cities and rural areas. “It may come as a surprise to some, but Americans who live in small towns have the same transportation needs as those that live in big cities,” Smith said. “They need access to their jobs, healthcare, education and services. Long commutes, rising gas prices, and shifting demographics all impact the prosperity of these communities and the people that live in them.”

During his tenure as mayor, Smith leveraged a mix of public and private investment to restore Meridian’s historic train station and build the South’s first multimodal transportation center. The station was “a catalyst for transforming our main street, increasing public transportation ridership, and helping to generate millions of dollars in private economic development in the surrounding neighborhoods,” he told the Subcommittee.

“Livability” has become a loaded and sadly partisan term in Congress, but as Smith pointed out, it describes something that really shouldn’t be controversial at all. He said:

When I came to Washington, D.C. almost two years ago, I realized as I heard this new word, livability, that that was just what we were doing in Meridian. The transit connections and ensuing economic development that occurred in my sixteen years as Mayor were empowering people to make decisions without being hindered by distance and gas prices.  You can put whatever label on it you want – but people should be able to live where they want to live, work where they want to work, and get there in a cost-efficient and timely manner.

Congress has the opportunity to heed Mayor Smith’s vision for repair, increased options and higher quality of life as the Subcommittee and full Committee consider a six-year, transportation reauthorization in the coming months.

You can read Mayor Smith’s entire testimony here.

Smith, a former four-term mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, writes from personal experience as a local elected official who tackled infrastructure and economic development in a smaller city. He reflected upon his recent participation in a Bernalillo, New Mexico forum that drew more than 40 transportation practitioners, nonprofit advocates, service providers and elected officials, along with representatives from most of the state’s Congressional delegation.

In both the Journal op-ed and his remarks at the forum, Mayor Smith recounted Meridian’s role as an economic and entertainment destination for hundreds of thousands of Alabamans and Mississippians.

In Meridian, we were able to do something different. We used federal transportation dollars to reverse the decline of our city center through the creation of a transportation hub in our historic Union Station. The improved train station connects Amtrak train service, intercity buses and local transit, and most importantly, it fueled over $135 million in private investment in my hometown…. People in largely rural states shouldn’t have to work that hard to get their needs met, and that’s one thing we’re working to change.

Smith also addressed the growing urgency in New Mexico for a greater array of transportation options. He cited regional transit districts in the state’s northern corner and Middle Rio Grande that are working hard to connect rural residents to groceries, health services and jobs. He also praised federal grant funding (a TIGER grant) that has allowed the Pueblo of Laguna to develop design options for walking and biking, as well as pursue safety improvements.

DeAnza Sapien, Transportation for America’s New Mexico organizer, said the success of the forum demonstrated that state leaders are “ready for change” and have already “forged collaborations and created plans to grow their economies, benefit people and protect the land and lifestyles treasured by New Mexicans.”

The crucial next step is passing a forward-looking and comprehensive reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation law that can build on many of the innovations already taking place at the local level. If done right, this legislation can and should help grow rural economies and increase access and opportunity in America’s frontier communities and big cities alike.

Mayor Smith concluded his op-ed by saying:

Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation are poised to play a critical role in the next six-year transportation bill, so it is important that New Mexicans raise their voices now to let their leaders know what sort of transportation system they want and need. Many leaders in New Mexico’s cities, small towns, frontier and tribal communities are proving they’re ready for change – and now is the time to act.

Hearing President Obama call high-speed rail “the infrastructure of tomorrow” gave me great hope. Very rarely has transportation investment made the final cut in a presidential State of the Union address. The fact that it did make the cut this time really speaks to the president’s commitment to making high-speed rail a reality.

I’ve heard critics say over the years that the U.S. is too big for high-speed rail. China is the biggest country in the world and they built over the Himalayas and are now committing an additional $500 billion over the next 20 years. Saudi Arabia too is investing in high-speed rail in preparation for that certain day when oil reserves will no longer sustain the country. If they can do it, we can do it.

High-speed rail investment is about jobs, and not just temporary jobs, but long-term American jobs that cannot be outsourced. These jobs will employ Americans to build both rail networks and passenger rail equipment. This could be a real lifeline for unemployed automotive workers struggling to get and keep a new job. And these Americans will be going to work building a cleaner environment and more sustainable future for all of our children.

I have seen first-hand what investment in rail infrastructure and transit-oriented development can do to lift a mid-sized city like Meridian, Mississippi. Now there are people living in downtown, there’s entertainment downtown and a conference center has been built. It all started with a public sector investment done right. The vibrancy that returns to smaller communities as a result of rail service has improved the quality of life for millions of Americans. This is not about big city versus small, or urban versus rural. Chicago and Los Angeles will surely benefit from rail investment, but so too will places like Minot, North Dakota and Whitefish, Montana. This addresses the needs of our entire country and should be embraced by our representatives in Washington from all corners.

Of all the issues facing Congress, surely high-speed rail investment can transcend partisanship. As a Republican, I have worked with some the most liberal and conservative members of the United States Senate to protect Amtrak for people who depend on it. I see the potential for similar partnerships today and am heartened that we have a president who is leading the way.

Mayor John Robert Smith is co-chair of the T4 America Campaign, president of Reconnecting America, and former mayor of Meridian, Mississippi.

“We are pleased that the Consolidated Appropriations Committee bill for fiscal year 2010 includes $2.5 billion for high-speed rail. This is an important step forward and will build off the $8 billion previously allocated to high-speed rail in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. High-speed rail is a key priority of the Transportation for America campaign and our vision of expanded transit choices, intercity connectedness and less reliance on foreign oil.”

“This $2.5 billion would not be possible without the efforts of Congressman John Olver, a friend of public transportation throughout his 18 years in Congress. We applaud Congressman Olver’s efforts and look forward to our continued partnership.”

Aaron says:

I was able to catch up with John Robert Smith, CEO of Reconnecting America, and he recorded a short two minute video for me. If you only watch one of the videos I post, make it this one. He makes two incredibly important points that are too often overlooked when it comes to the livable cities agenda. The first is that we need to build an urban-small town-rural coalition around a new transportation policy. The other is that these issues are, or should be, non-partisan.

Thanks to Aaron for the video.