FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2024
CONTACT: Ben Crowther: ben@americawalks.org
The newest spherical of Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program awards introduced yesterday underscores the necessity for a transformational infrastructure invoice that places communities earlier than highways.
“There are a number of transformative initiatives amongst this 12 months’s recipients, however the majority are smaller fixes and few deal straight with the foundation reason behind disconnection: the freeway,” mentioned Mike McGinn, Govt Director of America Walks. “They nibble across the edges with initiatives like pedestrian bridges and adorned underpasses, however on the finish of the day, communities residing close to these highways are nonetheless topic to the air pollution, harmful driving, and disinvestment that comes with a giant street.”
Almost one-third of the $3.3 billion awarded this 12 months went to finding out or constructing both freeway caps and bicyclist/pedestrian bridges and underpasses. On their very own, these mitigations might be helpful for restoring connections, however a number of are related to deliberate freeway expansions that threaten to trigger extra harm and replicate the harms of Twentieth-century transportation planning to communities of shade and low-income communities. That is along with the numerous freeway expansions funded by the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act (IIJA) which can be being constructed with none remediations in any respect.
“It’s disappointing to see the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program utilized in some circumstances to actually cowl up freeway expansions,” mentioned McGinn. “How can we anticipate to restore the harm a freeway has prompted if we proceed to broaden it on the similar time? We name on Secretary Buttigieg to reform this system so future grants aren’t bundled into freeway growth initiatives. And we strongly urge recipients and their companions to rethink plans for growth and as an alternative really put money into reconnecting communities.”
The announcement of Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grants comes on the heels of an evaluation by Transportation for America that reveals to this point almost 25% of IIJA funding spent (over $33 billion) has gone towards freeway expansions. This method to spending the record-setting funding within the IIJA threatens the nation’s local weather, fairness, and budgetary targets, at a time when transportation is the most important supply of emissions in the US.
America Walks emphasizes that probably the most cost-effective Reconnecting Communities initiatives states might undertake in the present day is to strike outdated freeway plans from the books, to allow them to absolutely put money into the kinds of related, transit-friendly, walkable and accessible communities that Individuals need. The Communities Over Highways coalition, led by America Walks and over 200 organizations sturdy nationwide, requires a moratorium on freeway growth to make sure communities have the sources to put money into street upkeep, safer streets, dependable public transportation, and reconnecting communities.
America Walks is a nationwide non-profit devoted to advancing walkable, equitable, related, and accessible locations in each group throughout the U.S. We’re the nationwide voice for public areas that permit folks to soundly stroll and transfer. America Walks co-hosts the Freeway Fighters Community, a coalition of over 40 communities across the nation working to restore the harms attributable to present and proposed highways. To be taught extra, go to the Reconnecting Communities marketing campaign web page.
