The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has declared that 132 projects across the nation will receive $3.33 billion to facilitate connections between communities and essential services such as schools and healthcare facilities. This initiative, known as the Reconnecting Communities Pilot and Neighborhood Access and Equity program, is a part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
According to a DOT news release, this measure represents an 18-fold increase compared to the funding allocated for the 2023 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. The previous program supported community-led initiatives aimed at transforming transportation infrastructure, such as capping interstates with parks, repurposing sunken highways for housing development, and converting inhospitable transportation facilities into tree-lined complete streets.
The Justice40 Initiative of President Biden's administration endorsed both programs in an effort to reestablish links between communities and necessary social amenities that were severed by past transportation projects. The aim of this initiative is to ensure that a significant proportion (40%) of federal projects are implemented in these communities. It is anticipated that related projects will stimulate further development in the vicinity of these communities, create jobs, and foster community engagement that advances environmental justice and equity.
"Today we are proud to announce an unprecedented $3.3 billion to help 132 communities deliver better infrastructure that reconnects residents to jobs, health care, and other essentials," said DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He emphasized the transformative role of transportation in society by stating: "While the purpose of transportation is to connect, in too many communities past infrastructure decisions have served instead to divide. Now the Biden-Harris administration is acting to fix that."
Among the planned allocations detailed in the news release are 72 planning grants, 52 capital construction grants, and eight regional planning grants. One notable project involves reconnecting Atlanta's BeltLine with Flint River Trail. This endeavor aims to alleviate challenges faced by Southside Atlanta residents due to interstate construction near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports.
