Sustainable Communities Initiatives

Joan Morgan (HUD)Gerald Solomon (DOT)Ed Chu (CEQ/EPA)

Flamingo Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada January 27, 2010

Overview

Changing the conversation, changing how we work, good government

Climate change and energy security challenges require collaborative, sustainable, community-based solutions Interagency partnerships Organizational changes at DOT, HUD and EPA

Innovative programs Requires partnership with states, local

governments, and private sector partners

Conventional Sector-based View of U.S. GHG Emissions

2005 U.S. Emissions: 7,260 MMTCO2E

Conventional View Electricity production Automobiles and

transportation Energy/electricity

consumption

Systems-based View of U.S. GHG Emissions

Land Use

Land development patterns favor expansive land use and automobile-based transport

2.2 million acres of greenspace are developed each year in the U.S.

Chicago, 1970-1990

Metropolitan Population,

4%Developed Land Area,

47%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Large Homes

Average size of U.S. single-family home1950 983 SF1970 1,500 SF2000 2,200 SF2005 2,434 SF 148% increase from 1950

Average number of occupants per U.S. household1950 3.371970 3.142000 2.62 22% decrease from 1950

Average area per person in a new U.S. single-family home1950 292 SF per person1970 478 SF per person2000 840 SF per person 188% increase from 1950

148%

Increase

1950 983 SF

2005 2,434 SF

Impacts of Sprawl

Loss of carbon in soil and vegetation from natural land sink Estimated at 314 MMTCO2E, 4% of U.S. emissions Currently not included in the U.S. GHG inventory

Increased road and sewer construction Estimated at 40

MMTCO2E per year Increased Vehicle Miles

Traveled (VMT) Emissions from growth

in VMT are projected to increase 48% by 2030 if sprawling land development patterns continue

230 40065

13,043

17,500

923

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1950 2000 2055

Year

Veh

icle

s (m

illio

n)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

Ann

ual V

ehic

le M

iles

Trav

eled

Per

Veh

icle

(mill

ion)

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Vehicles

Childhood Obesity

Sustainability

DOT Definition:Sustainable Transportation means providing

exceptional mobility and access in a manner that meets development needs without compromising the quality of life of future generations.  A sustainable transportation system is safe, healthy, affordable, renewable, operates fairly and limits emissions and the use of new and nonrenewable resources.

Sustainable Communities:Federal Activities

Context Sensitive SolutionsEcologicalLow Impact DevelopmentGreen StreetsGreen InfrastructureRecycling & ReuseBrownfields

Sustainable Communities:State and Regional Activities

State/Regional InitiativesMid-Atlantic Green Highways PartnershipGreen RoadsGreen LITES STARS

All States can create similar initiatives

Sustainability – How It Will Shape the Future Highway Program

Increase use of recycled materials Stormwater runoff techniques that mimic natural

hydrology Construction equipment that reduces pollution and ion

practices that minimize ecosystems impacts Designs to minimize environmental impacts Operational equipment that uses renewable fuels Maintenance that minimizes environmental impacts Conversion of brownfields Designs that accommodate multiple modes and promote

connectivity Facilitation of affordable choices for jobs and schools

Sustainability Research

NCHRP StudiesProviding Effective Transportation in a

Sustainable Society Sustainability Performance Measures for

State Departments of Transportation and Other Transportation Agencies

Sustainable Pavement Maintenance Practices

Transportation Corridor Environmental Management Framework

Livability

Livability means “being able to take your kids to school, go to work, see a doctor, drop by the grocery store or post

office, go out to dinner and a movie, and play with your kids at the

park, all without having to get into your car.”

Secretary Ray LaHood, DOT

Livability: Definition

Livable Communities Encourage mixed-use, multimodal

neighborhoods with highly-connected streets promoting mobility for all users

The Livable Communities Initiative Provides transportation choices that promote

place-based transportation policies that are centered on people

Livability: Determined by the Public

“Livability,” is personal, subjective, and dependent upon the visions articulated by the residents, visitors, workers, and other stakeholders of a community.

One Size Does Not Fit All!

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Partnership for Sustainable CommunitiesMission: To meet the President’s challenge for our agencies to work together to encourage and fully assist rural, suburban, and urban areas to build sustainable communities, and to make sustainable communities the leading style of development in the United States.

The Partnership is focused on ensuring that federal investments, policies, and actions do not subsidize sprawl and, instead, support development in more efficient and sustainable locations.

Partnership for Sustainable Communities

HUD/DOT/EPA Sustainable Communities Partnership

March 2009: HUD and DOT formed Partnership Recognition that transportation costs must

be included into the calculations of housing costs

June 2009: EPA joins PartnershipRecognition that our water, brownfields,

and air investments, policies, and actions can be part of the solution

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President Barack Obama: July 13, 2009

“For too long, federal policy has actually encouraged sprawl and congestion and pollution, rather than quality public transportation and smart, sustainable development…

And that's why we've created a new interagency partnership on sustainable communities, led by Shaun Donovan, Ray LaHood and Lisa Jackson. And by working together, their agencies can make sure that when it comes to development -- housing, transportation, energy efficiency -- these things aren't mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand. And that means making sure that affordable housing exists in close proximity to jobs and transportation. That means encouraging shorter travel times and lower travel costs. It means safer, greener, more livable communities.”

-- President Barack Obama

Partnership for Sustainable Communities

HUD/DOT/EPA Sustainable Communities Partnership’s Guiding Principles

•Provide more transportation choices.

•Promote equitable, affordable housing.

•Enhance economic competitiveness.

•Target resources to existing communities.

•Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investments.

•Value unique characteristics of communities no matter their size.

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Progress To Date

Three-Agency and White House Tour Outreach to key stakeholders

Convened meeting with all 10 EPA Regions with identified Partnership managers and staff contacts.

State Summit (34 states) and other “listening sessions”

HUD policy change on Brownfields allowing program funds to be spent on mortgages for multi-family units built on former Brownfield sites that have been cleaned and that include mixed income developments

Executive Order on Federal Facilities (EO 13514). Partnership work to ensured strong language on location

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Partnership Activities

Environmental Justice EJ and equitable development considerations are incorporated

throughout all Partnership activities. EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund

EPA will provide technical assistance to three states to explore flexibility they have to achieve these goals.

Develop SRF best practices Develop CW and DW SRF Sustainability Policy Requested OW analysis on our statutory authority limits on SRF

EPA Urban Waters Initiative Promote equitable redevelopment adjacent to urban waters, re-invest

in existing infrastructure, improve water quality, and revitalize waterfront neighborhoods – especially those.

Pilot program in Chicago Measure the contributions of green stormwater management

approaches to determine if, and how, these approaches could be considered in meeting a city’s consent decree.

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Partnership Activities

Denver -- Rewarding Smart Land Use Policies in SIPs Develop a regional scenario tied to specific land use policies and

apply to regional transportation air quality modeling to determine if, and how, to account for associated emission reductions the region’s SIP process.

Brownfield Pilot – “Sustainable Sites” Five transit-oriented sites to be selected to receive technical

assistance. Sought locations where HUD and DOT also have investments. Focus on disadvantaged, economically distressed, and rural

communities. Community Action for Renewed Environment Smart Growth Program

Manage and coordinate the Partnership for the Agency Smart Growth Implementation Assistance HUD and DOT on the teams for– California; Louisville, Ky.; Las

Cruces, N.M.; Montgomery County, Md.

Other Federal Activities

Urban agriculture and forestryPlace-Based Initiatives

New Sustainability Offices

HUD Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities

EPA Office of Sustainable Communities

Collaboration EPA and DOT helping with HUD regional planning

grants EPA and HUD reviewing DOT Tiger grants HUD and DOT reviewing EPA brownfield grants

and working with EPA on Technical Assistance projects

Smart Growth: Technical Assistance

Technical assistance and other support to over 220 governors, state and local governments, and other stakeholders. Since 2005, 325 applications received, 27 selected

Develop tools that address widespread problems.

Essential Code Fixes for Urban and Suburban Communities Municipal Water Quality Scorecard

Governor’s Institute Joint program with the National Endowment for the Arts 10 Governors since 2006

Smart Growth: Changing Rules

Federal Air: Emission reductions from smart growth can now be used

for required air quality plans. Stormwater: State permit language recognizes the water

quality benefit from specific smart growth land use strategies.

National Standard Setters School siting: Worked with partner organizations to remove

"minimum acreage requirements" from national school siting guidelines.

Institute for Transportation Engineers: Developed new guidelines for trip generation from infill (vs. greenfield) sites.

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New Partners for Smart Growth Conference

Seattle, February 3-6, 2010 Registration has topped 1400 (including 65 from EPA,

51 from HUD, 16 from DOT) Opening Plenary Session – Feb. 4th – Featuring

Administrator Jackson, Secretary Donovan, Secretary LaHood Day-long workshop on Smart Growth and Environmental

Justice (Feb. 3rd – registration 155 so far) EJ tract/scholarships/focus on partnership and climate issues.

Possible tour of Tacoma, Washington

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Partnership Priorities for 2010

Address more than 300 recommendations received from states and various stakeholder groups.

Align funding and get money out the door.

Show visible progress in coordinating transportation, housing and water infrastructure planning.

Build regional capacity.

HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership For Sustainable Communities: DOT Actions

Discretionary Grant Program

HUD FY’10 Budget Request

Modal Discretionary Grant Programs

FHWA Livability Initiatives

FHWA/FTA Livability Initiative Training A Livability in Transportation GuidebookStrategies for Livable Communities

Research ProjectJoint FTA/FHWA MemoCase Studies

FTA Livability InitiativesTransit Oriented DevelopmentLocal Planning and Zoning ActionsPublic-Private PartnershipsTarget Programs to Transportation

CorridorsPromote Infill and Brownfield

RedevelopmentAlign/Leverage Housing and Transit

Spending

What Can Our Partners Do

Encourage a comprehensive planning process.

Incorporate livability strategies in planning

Identify projects that improve accessibility to essential services.

What Can Our Partners Do

Sponsor projects to better connect rural areas with metropolitan, national and global markets and services by improving substandard or inaccessible surface roads.

Modify roadway design guidelines to facilitate livable projects.

Improve Context Sensitive Solutions efforts across all projects.

Sustainable & Livable Communities

Cambridge, MA

Thank You