SGA Monthly Coalition Call 2-18-2010

SGA Monthly Coalition Call 6/24/2010 4:00PM EST

Attendance Nicole - 1000 Friends of Connecticut Sam Haffner and Ting Ting - 1000 Friends of Oregon Adam Garcia - Greenbelt Alliance Ray Christman and Kevin Doyle - Livable Communities Coalition (Georgia) Rachel Winer - Idaho Smart Growth Paul Zykofsky - Local Government Commission (California) Krissy Nichols - Metropolitan Planning Council (Illinois) Tim Trohimovich - Futurewise (Washington) Ashley Futrell - Trust for Public Land Scott Wolf, Adam Maynard, Tanya Begani - Grow Smart Rhode Island Jeremie Greer and Julie Seward - Local Initiatives Support Corporation Gene Krebs - Greater Ohio Alison Van Gorp - Cascade Land Conservancy Kevin Mills - Rails to Trails

Federal Policy Updates (Kate Rube)

For more information, view SGA’s biweekly Washington Update

 Climate: SGA is supportive of the strong transportation language and funding included in the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill released last month. The leadership in congress and the white house are trying to figure out the best path forward, which could involve moving the Kerry-Lieberman bill or another climate bill, hopefully in July. Our current priority is making sure that the transportation language from the Kerry-Lieberman bill is included in whatever gets passed. We are also working to at least maintain (if not increase) the funding level for transportation of $6.25 billion. o Action Item: Call your senators asking them to support the transportation language and funding from the Kerry-Lieberman bill.

 Livable Communities Act There is a hearing in the senate banking committee and they are looking to mark up the bill in July. They are focused on building cosponsors, particularly Republican senators and senators from the South and Midwest. SGA has been looking for cosponsors as well. We are currently focusing on the senate side but there’s an equivalent bill on the house side as well.

 Transportation Issues Public Transportation Preservation Act—would create $2 billion in emergency funding for transit operations. We are asking senators to cosponsor the bill and are trying to figure out a vehicle to attach it to so it can move in July.

o Action Item: Call your senators asking them to cosponsor.

 Appropriations We are focused on securing (and hopefully increasing) the funding level for the sustainable communities initiative released in the presidents’ budget earlier this year. We have heard that HUD’s funding is probably fairly secure, but DOT’s is in jeopardy because of push back in congress against anything labeled ‘livability,’ and because of fears that this will divert funding away from highways. Within DOT, they’ve requested $20 million for a livability office, and they’ve also requested a new grant program within FHWA that would help state DOTs and MPOs move to a more performance-based approach. o Action Item: Contact appropriations committee members.

 Brownfields: The Brownfields Reauthorization Act was introduced a couple weeks ago in the house. We are trying to get cosponsors for the bill and expect that the senate bill will be introduced within the next few weeks.

Questions: Q: Scott Wolf, Grow Smart RI: Since SGA ideally wants an increase in transportation funding in whatever climate bill moves from the $6.25 million, is there an alternative number we’re asking for? A: Kate: No, there’s not a specific number we’re asking for. The reality is we will probably be lucky if we can maintain that funding in the bill (it’s about 3 or 4 times higher than previously proposed transportation funding in climate legislation). But we think a good defense is being on the offensive. The money would all be new money, on top of gas tax receipts for the highway trust fund. It goes into three pots: a grant program to fund low-carbon transportation projects, TIGER, and the Highway Trust Fund (but can only be used for projects which reduce emissions.)

Q: Scott, RI: The Public Transportation Preservation Act—is this the same as the Emergency Transit Act (which RI’s senators are cosponsoring)? A: Kate thinks it’s the same thing. Both of RI’s senators are on the Transit bill.

 Joint funding opportunity from HUD and DOT: The HUD pot of money will fund Sustainability Challenge Grants, and will go towards projects that focus on things like zoning overhauls and affordable housing, typically for places that already have regional plans. The DOT grants are meant to help lay the planning groundwork needed to get potential TIGER projects ready to go. Projects that fit both criteria can be submitted through a single application. The deadline is the end of August. Both opportunities are mainly geared toward local governments, MOPS, etc. rather not non-profits.

 Sustainability Regional Planning Grant Program—supports integrated planning at the regional level, bringing environmental, housing, and economic strategies together for a longer-term vision. Non-profits are eligible for this and can be the lead as long as they partner with units of local government.

 SGA is co-hosting a webinar June 30 from 3-5 pm to discuss the NOFAs and how to apply. We will send out a formal invite with a link shortly.

 FTA will host a webinar specifically addressing the joint grants next Thursday (7/1) at 2 pm. Natalie will send around info on this.  Q: For the HUD challenge grant there seems to be a required 20% local match. Is that correct? A: Kate’s understanding is that you can use a 20% match or an in-kind match. For rural areas the match can be waived.

 Q: If someone received a TIGER 1 grant, could they tie that to an application for a TIGER 2 DOT grant? A: DOT probably wouldn’t prohibit that, but we know they’re focused on fairness and on achieving a relatively even distribution of grants across the country.

T4A and EPI report

 Released this morning (6/24), the report analyzes the job creation potential from different kinds of transportation investments. EPI ran an input-output model of different transportation packages, including a SAFETEA-LU baseline package that weighted highway investments heavily, and a T4A transportation reform proposal. The study concluded that T4’s proposal would produce more jobs (and “better quality” jobs—higher unionization rates, a greater percentage of jobs going to individuals in lower income brackets, etc.) than the baseline SAFETEA-LU package. Here is a link to the report: http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/the_job_impact_of_transportation_reauthorization /

 Apollo Alliance also released a study today on manufacturing jobs in the rail sector. This compliments the T4 report nicely because T4’s report shows that jobs in the manufacturing sector in particular would benefit from transportation reform.

 Q: Scott, RI: Does AASHTO have an opinion on this? A, Lily: EPI is officially releasing the study and they are generally considered highly reputable, so she doesn’t expect major pushback from AASHTO or anyone else.

Resources – available or coming soon

Transit Campaign Resources – Available NOW

Where: on the transit campaign section of the coalition site: http://coalition.smartgrowthamerica.org/transit-campaign/

Include:  A list compiling existing research related to transit in categories: running a campaign, funding, economic benefits, environment, housing, TOD, etc.

 Summaries of funding mechanisms for transit such as sales tax, payroll tax, parking fees, value capture—including how they work and case studies of where they are currently being used

 Summary of transit funding options with brief summary of all mechanisms and brief summaries of all case studies.

Stimulus Final Report We are taking a look back at the past year to analyze how transportation stimulus dollars were spent. The report will include state-by-state info as well. It will be available later in the summer or fall.

Optimal Investments Report This report will look at the way state DOTs invest their money based on their own metrics. The conclusion we’re hoping to reach is that spending money on maintenance is a better investment than new capacity even through the lens of the DOTs’ own metrics. Available: fall or winter.

Climate-Transportation Report Looks at state transportation policies and funding decisions and gives states a grade based on how well their transportation funding practices and policies match their climate goals. We’re hoping to have this report ready to go by the end of July and we would love to hear of anyone interested in co- releasing. Available: mid-summer. Action Item: If you are interested in doing a press release or a larger release let Stephanie know.  Q: Scott, RI: Are there any preliminary grades? A: Yes, Stephanie can send them around to anyone who requests it. As an overview, most of the states are failing. The report also has info about the co-benefits of good transportation investments, including health benefits, economic benefits, etc.

PowerPoint on Economic Benefits of Smart Growth Developed in response to requests made at the coalition meeting in the fall, this resource will compile research connecting smart growth to positive economic outcomes. Available: beginning of July.

Partner Updates

Gene Krebs, Greater OH: Passed an extended land bank bill in Ohio. Since then they’ve had training seminars. The number one thing they’re working on is governance reform.

Julie, LISC: In MN significant complete streets legislation passed recently. Note from Stephanie: Fresh Energy did a blog post on lessons learned from their campaign in MN and it’s up on www.completestreets.org.

Ray Christman, LCC: Recently passed major transportation legislation in GA creating the opportunity to establish regional 1% sales taxes throughout the state via voter referendums.

 Q: Gene: There was a big article in the Economist Magazine about this a couple weeks ago. Is it a good thing or a bad thing?  A: Ray: In the context of GA it’s a very good thing. While there’s no guarantee that the money will be spent on transit rather than roads, in metro Atlanta LCC believes the project list will probably be transit-heavy (and this will provide a better chance of passing the referendum). That said, passing the referendum at all will likely be a challenge.  Q: Gene: Will the ballot language specify which type of transportation it will be used for?  A: Ray: No, but the project list will be widely distributed beforehand so voters will have a good idea of where the money will be spent. Scott Wolf, Grow Smart RI: Got legislation passed to have a study commission looking at transportation funding alternatives to the gas tax. They are also working to incorporate location efficient sites into economic development projects.

Tim Trohimovish, Futurewise: On 6/23 Futurewise and two partners filed lawsuits against the largest MPO in the state, arguing that its plans don’t address Washington State’s emissions reductions goals.

Julie (general updates): In MO a new food council has been formed which will look at the impact of healthy foods and lifestyles in urban environments. Also, in Arizona the formation of the AZ Livability Coalition is going well.

Reminder: Next call will be Thursday, July 29th at 4:00pm EST. The call will feature from Empire State Future (New York) talking about a recent smart growth bill that passed the New York State legislature.