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 basis explanation for disconnection: the freeway,” stated Mike McGinn, Government Director of America Walks. “They nibble across the edges with initiatives like pedestrian bridges and embellished underpasses, however on the finish of the day, communities dwelling close to these highways are nonetheless topic to the air pollution, harmful driving, and disinvestment that comes with an enormous highway.”
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 injury and replicate the harms of Twentieth-century transportation planning to communities of coloration and low-income communities. That is along with the numerous freeway expansions funded by the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act (IIJA) which might be being constructed with none remediations in any respect.
“It’s disappointing to see the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program utilized in some instances to actually cowl up freeway expansions,” stated McGinn. “How can we anticipate to restore the injury a freeway has induced if we proceed to broaden it on the identical 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 exhibits thus far practically 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 essentially the most cost-effective Reconnecting Communities initiatives states might undertake at the moment is to strike outdated freeway plans from the books, to allow them to totally put money into the sorts of related, transit-friendly, walkable and accessible communities that Individuals need. The Communities Over Highways coalition, led by America Walks and over 200 organizations robust nationwide, requires a moratorium on freeway growth to make sure communities have the assets to put money into highway 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 enable individuals 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 brought on by present and proposed highways. To be taught extra, go to the Reconnecting Communities marketing campaign web page.
