EPA Signs on to "Livable Communities" Partnership

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced its intent to tackle the country’s economic, energy, and environmental challenges alongside the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation. The sea change persists, after the partnership between HUD and DOT was established in March.

Linking housing, transportation and environmental policy will take place under the six “livability principles” established by the three agencies. Principle one, “Provide more transportation choices”, when examined under the three ‘lenses’ means that policy will be created “to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health”.  Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)’s mantra that housing affordability needs to include transportation costs, and position that housing and transportation need to be considered together in planning for sustainable communities, have been heard and acted upon in unprecedented ways in key places in the federal government. 

Read the remarks by The Rockefeller Foundation President, Judith Rodin, on transforming our transportation system, given at the National Governors Association Panel Discussion.