EPA Joins HUD and DOT in Sustainable Communities Partnership

On June 16, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that the EPA will join HUD and DOT’s “ Partnership for Sustainable Communities ” to coordinate housing, transportation, and environmental protection investments. The partnership, announced by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan during Senate testimony, will coordinate the three agencies’ policies, investments, research, and outreach efforts to improve access to affordable housing and transportation choices while preserving the environment in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the country.

The partnership’s vision for sustainable development in the United States is articulated by six livability principles , focusing on expanding transportation and housing options for working Americans while providing better access to employment and commercial centers, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, easing the burden of rising transportation and housing costs, and revitalizing existing communities. The addition of EPA to the partnership will help integrate planning for water infrastructure and land use with housing and transportation investment. “It’s important that the separate agencies working to improve livability in our neighborhoods are all pointed in the same direction,” said Administrator Jackson. “We’re leading the way towards communities that are cleaner, healthier, more affordable, and great destinations for businesses and jobs.”

On June 5, EESI and Transportation for America held a briefing to enhance the discussion on how the next federal transportation bill can help create safer streets and more livable communities. Video and other information from Complete Streets: Integrating Safety and Livability into the Next Transportation Bill can be found here .