U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg announced the importance of disadvantaged communities gaining access to funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Trottenberg's statement came after a request for information was announced Aug. 5 by the U.S. Department of Transportation to receive input from stakeholders about the Thriving Communities Initiative, according to a news release by the Department of Transportation. The Initiative launches this fall.
"Given the historic levels of infrastructure funding we have thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it is critical that we ensure disadvantaged communities can access those funds," Trottenberg said in the news release. "Through the Thriving Communities Initiative and other programs, the Department of Transportation is committed to collaborating with communities to craft technical assistance programs that meet them where they are and meet their needs – helping to create efficient, accessible transportation for all communities."
Technical assistance and hands-on planning support will be provided for transformative infrastructure projects that serve disadvantaged communities, according to the release.
“DOT wants to hear directly from disadvantaged communities about their most pressing technical assistance and capacity building needs that could be supported by these programs,” Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Christopher Coes said in the release. “DOT is designing this program to help implement the historic investments from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure that every place has the needed tools to thrive.”
The complementary technical assistance will be provided by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development as part of the Thriving Communities program, the release reported.
“Together these critical programs will provide support and access to a diverse set of technical assistance providers to work directly with communities as they identify, develop and deliver infrastructure projects that address critical social, economic, environmental and mobility needs,” Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajia said in the release.
According to the release, the technical assistance will improve the housing and transportation planning coordination to fix residents’ access to opportunities and increase the housing supply.
