Public transportation should be about bringing communities together, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release last week.
Buttigieg made the observation in a July 5 news release announcing the department is accepting applications for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program. The program aims to build transportation infrastructure that will reconnect communities and people to economic opportunities.
"Transportation should never divide communities – its purpose is to connect people to jobs, schools, housing, groceries, family, places of worship, and more," Buttigieg said in the news release. "That's what the Reconnecting Communities program and the Neighborhood Access and Equity program are designed to ensure."
The Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program combines two programs created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, with an eye toward making applying easier.
"By combining these two grant programs into a single application, we are making it easier for communities to seek and receive the funding they need to build better, safer, inclusive infrastructure for the future," Buttigieg said.
Establishing the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program was a pivotal step taken by President Biden's administration as part of the infrastructure law, according to the news release. The program provides funding for projects that alleviate physical obstacles to transportation and enhance community connectivity. Similarly, the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act established the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, which focuses on funding projects that eliminate physical barriers and improve walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access, with a particular emphasis on disadvantaged communities.
The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program has been allocated a total of $198 million in funding. This amount includes $148 million specifically designated for Capital Construction Grant funds. These funds will enable communities to undertake infrastructure projects that address physical barriers to mobility, such as highways or train tracks. An additional $50 million has been allocated for Community Planning Grants, which not only provides financial assistance but also include provisions for technical support to aid communities in their planning efforts. The second program, known as the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, has an impressive budget of $3.155 billion. Within this program, the DOT has outlined the following funding allocations: $135 million for Community Planning Grants, $2.57 billion for Capital Construction Grants, and $450 million for Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants. The Regional Partnerships Challenge Grants are specifically designed to foster collaboration among different regions, encouraging them to leverage federal, state, and regional funding and policies to tackle transportation-related challenges together.
In addition to the funding announcement, the Department of Transportation has established a groundbreaking partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), according to the statement. This unique collaboration aims to coordinate technical assistance efforts in planning and constructing infrastructure that enhances connectivity and accessibility, particularly for marginalized communities. By engaging philanthropic organizations like the RWJF, the DOT can leverage additional resources and provide support to a greater number of communities and organizations. The ultimate goal is to offer improved mobility options that facilitate community revitalization, stimulate equitable development and create access to enhanced economic opportunities.
