News

In This Issue

• Continuing Resolution/Federal Policy Updates
• We need YOUR help finding examples of innovative transportation policy reforms!
• New Poll on Sustainable Communities
• EPA now accepting applications for the 10th annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
• SGA Partner Transform is hiring
• Call for Event Organizers/Leaders – A National Conversation on Transportation Equity
• Please register for the SGA Coalition Meeting and Lobby Day today!

With half of the federal fiscal year already gone by, debate in Washington continues over the scope of spending for the year. This week Congress averted a possible government shutdown by passing a two-week continuing resolution (CR) funding government operations through March 18 with $4 billion in spending cuts that focused on areas already targeted for reductions in the President’s FY 12 budget proposal. During last year’s lame duck session, Congress passed a CR extending funding at current levels through March 4. After a series of marathon sessions, the newly Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed budget legislation (HR 1) that would make some $100 billion worth of cuts to domestic discretionary spending. That approach has proven to be a non-starter at both the White House, where President Obama pledged a veto, and the Democratic-led Senate. Negotiations are intensifying, but the two sides remain far apart. Work on resolving the impasse over the balance of FY 2011 comes at the same time that the Administration delivered its budget proposal for FY 12 and Congress begins its annual budget and appropriations process.

The CR battle has significant implications for smart growth advocates. The plan passed by the House would prohibit funding for federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities grants. The Administration hopes to provide funding for a second round of sustainability regional planning grants and community challenge grants. The House bill also would cut funding for any of these grants, including DOT’s popular TIGER II program, that were previously awarded if the funds haven’t been obligated. SGA is leading a national coalition urging the Senate to reject cuts to the Partnership for Sustainable Communities program in the CR package and planning to push for continued support in the upcoming appropriations debate. More than 60 organizations sent a letter to Senate leaders in support of the initiative and SGA is working to demonstrate to key Senators the vital economic importance of sustainability partnership programs to communities. With the debate on Capitol Hill at the critical juncture, your voice is especially important. Urge your Senators to support the Partnership for Sustainable Communities as a critical tool for local smart growth efforts.

We need YOUR help finding examples of innovative transportation policy reforms!

We are interested in collecting examples of innovative state-level transportation policy and spending reforms from around the country. We’re casting a fairly wide net at this point so feel free to send anything that you consider innovative. Some examples of the types of policies we’re looking for are:

• Congestion management programs (ex. tolling at a rate that varies by congestion level, on-street parking pricing strategies, etc.)
• Land use policies and incentives for transit-oriented development
• Policies that foster greater coordination between agencies
• Dedicated funding pots for non-motorized transportation, innovative state-level transit funding solutions, etc.

If you have examples from your state, please send them to Rayla Bellis. A brief description of the policy with a link to more information would be helpful. Links directly to legislative language would also be especially useful.

New poll reveals broad, bipartisan support for sustainable communities

A recent poll by Smart Growth America has found that in the midst of a struggling U.S. economy, support for smart growth strategies remains high among Americans across the country and on both sides of the political aisle. Download the new poll: “Building for the 21st Century: American support for sustainable communities.” (PDF)

The strong support for sustainable communities revealed by this poll should encourage lawmakers at both the state and federal level to support smart growth strategies. Sustainable communities are fiscally responsible, create economically strong communities and, as this poll details, are widely popular with voters across the country and across the political spectrum. Feel free to use this information in your work, share widely or post to your website. Link to Smart Growth America’s blog post about the poll from your website, Twitter feed or Facebook page.

The EPA is now accepting applications for the 10th annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement

The application period for the 10th annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement is now open. This award recognizes and supports communities that have successfully used smart growth principles to improve communities environmentally, socially, and economically. Open to public- and private-sector entities, winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in December 2011. The deadline for entry is April 6, 2011. View the application and complete entry guidelines here.

TransForm job opening – Transportation Policy Director

TransForm is looking for a Transportation Policy Director to lead efforts to influence transportation policy and funding decisions in the Bay Area, including the region’s first Sustainable Communities Strategy – – an integrated transportation and land use plan to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health and make communities more affordable. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in coalition-building, communications and advocacy, as well as a background in transportation policy or planning. View the full job announcement on Transform’s website.

Call for Event Organizers/Leaders – A National Conversation on Transportation Equity

Given that the federal debate around the surface transportation bill is heating up, members of T4A’s Equity Caucus are proposing a National Conversation on Transportation Equity, with a series of local events to be held around the country in late April and May 2011. Because the transportation bill affects the entire nation, it’s important that Congress and the Administration hear from communities across the country that will be affected by what is ultimately in the bill. Our goals for the local events:

• Cultivate congressional champions. We want to build relationships with Members of Congress that have influence over the surface transportation bill (particularly members of the House T&I Committee, Senate EPW, and Senate Banking).
• Lift up local voices. Provide a space for local leaders to speak directly to policymakers about the need for transportation investments that improve the economic prospects for all communities.
• Support local capacity. We want to support growing local capacity in communities to advocate for economic and social equity as a driver of federal transportation policy in 2011 and beyond.
• Develop opportunities to get transportation equity “branded” as a criteria for reform and investment with media and opinion leaders.

Potential Event States

We are proposing to hold 4 local events and would like them to be in some combination of the following states, where members of Congress have an influential role in the national transportation debate. We will decide on locations based on having interested local partners and ensuring a geographic spread (including lifting up urban, suburban, and rural perspectives).

The states are:

• California (perhaps Bay Area)
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania (perhaps Pittsburgh)
• Rhode Island
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

How To Get Involved

We are seeking organizations to partner with to develop the events. Ideally one or more national organizations involved in the Equity Caucus will work with the local partner/s. We hope that planning teams will have the capacity to: engage with Members of Congress; bring together a diverse set of local leaders for equity; and develop materials (i.e. testimony for the record, short reports, video, earned media, etc.) that leave a record of the dialogue and build the local knowledge in the community. Some resources are available to cover event costs.

Any groups who are interested in coordinating one of these events should contact Erica Swanson at the Leadership Conference know by Friday March 4th if you’d like to be engaged (swanson@civilrights.org; 202.263.2859).

Please register for the SGA Coalition Meeting and Lobby Day today!

The 2011 SGA Coalition Meeting and Lobby Day is coming up on April 14-15. We’re still working on determining a location and developing the agenda, but we wanted to send out the registration information and a few key details so you can let us know if you’re planning to attend. If you’re planning to join us, please register no later than Friday, March 25.