By Ron Thaniel
December 7, 2009

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on December 1 the availability of $280 million for urban circulator projects such as streetcars, buses, and bus facilities. The money represents the first batch of funding by the Obama Administration for its Livability Initiative, a joint venture of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"This represents a significant effort to promote livable communities, improve the quality of life for more Americans and create more transportation choices that serve the needs of individual communities," LaHood said. "Fostering the concept of livability in transportation projects will stimulate America's neighborhoods to become safer, healthier and more vibrant."

LaHood made the announcement at the historic Carrollton Car Barn streetcar facility with The U.S. Conference of Mayors Stafford Act Reform Task Force Chair and Poverty, Work and Opportunity Task Force Co'Chair New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin during a tour of the city's Katrina recovery efforts.

Up to $25 million for each selected project will be available from approximately $125 million in prior year unallocated Section 5309 funds available now. Eligible projects include streetcars, bus, rapid transit and other eligible fixed guideways. Priority projects will connect destinations and foster the redevelopment of districts into walkable, mixed use, high density environments.

FTA will select projects on the basis of four criteria:

1. Livability: Improving the quality of living and working environments in the corridor in which the project is located. Specifically, the availability of existing or planned mixed income housing, including low income housing, within walking distance of the project and the strategies proposed to deliver high quality pedestrian environments will be evaluated.

2. Sustainability: Benefitting the environment through implementation of practices beyond the minimum requirements necessary to satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act, such as the use of green technologies, energy efficient and sustainable infrastructure and other measures to reduce mobile source pollutants.

3. Economic Development: Contributing to the economic development of the corridor in which the project is located over the medium' to long'term. Plans and strategies to strengthen existing or encourage planned mixed use development that provides local jobs and services within the community, in addition to housing, will be assessed.

4. Leveraging of Public Investments: Demonstrating strong collaboration among a broad range of participants and/or integration of transportation with other public investment efforts such as HUD'supported housing investments or EPA'funded brownfields projects.

Funding will be available from up to $150 million in prior'year unallocated Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facility funds available now. Priority projects will foster the preservation and enhancement of urban and rural communities by providing new mobility options which provide access to jobs, healthcare, and education, and/or which contribute to the redevelopment of neighborhood spaces into walkable, mixed'use, vibrant environments.

A second pot of money totaling $150 million in unallocated discretionary Bus and Bus Facility funds will be available for projects that will foster the preservation and enhancement of urban and rural communities by providing new mobility options which provide access to jobs, healthcare, and education, and/or contribute to the redevelopment of neighborhoods into pedestrian'friendly vibrant environments. FTA will identify meritorious projects on the basis of three criteria:

1. Livability: For Bus Projects, assessment of the impact on livability will focus on the project's ability to improve access to jobs, education, medical services and other necessities; support the independence of the elderly and disabled to remain in and contribute to their communities; or preserve and invigorate town centers.

2. Sustainability: FTA will emphasize projects which benefit the environment through activities which support more environmentally sustainable transportation systems; i.e. reducing reliance on automobile travel, improving the pedestrian and walk environment of a community, and use of sustainable design techniques in their planning, construction, and operation.

3. Leveraging of Public Investments: Bus projects will also be evaluated based on the degree to which they demonstrate strong collaboration among a broad range of participants and/or integration of transportation with other public investment efforts such as HUD'supported housing investments or EPA'funded brownfields projects.

FTA is publishing two notices of funding availability (NOFAs) the week of December 7, with grantee selections announcements early in 2010.

For additional information, go to the U.S. Department of Transportation's website at www.dot.gov.