Dept. of Transportation, HUD, EPA Launch Partnership for Sustainable Communities

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorWashington, D.C.–The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly launched an interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson testified together at a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing chaired by U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd. The three outlined the six guiding “livability principles” they will use to coordinate federal transportation, environmental protection and housing investments at their respective agencies. Many in the housing sector consider this partnership a step in the right direction.Earlier this year, HUD and DOT announced an unprecedented agreement to implement joint housing and transportation initiatives. With EPA joining the partnership, the three agencies will work together to ensure that these housing and transportation goals are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change. DOT Secretary LaHood says, “Creating livable communities will result in improved quality of life for all Americans and create a more efficient and more accessible transportation network that services the needs of individual communities.”HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, says, “These principles mean that we will all be working off the same playbook to formulate and implement policies and programs. For the first time, the Federal government will speak with one voice on housing, environmental and transportation policy.””It’s important that the separate agencies working to improve livability in our neighborhoods are all pointed in the same direction.  We’re leading the way towards communities that are cleaner, healthier, more affordable, and great destinations for businesses and jobs,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.The Partnership for Sustainable Communities established six livability principles that will act as a foundation for interagency coordination: Provide more transportation choices. Promote equitable, affordable housing. Enhance economic competitiveness. Support existing communities.Coordinate policies and leverage investment.Value communities and neighborhoods.Many in the housing sector expressed their pleasure over this proposal, including Conrad Egan, president of the National Housing Conference (NHC) and Doris Koo, president and CEO of Enterprise Community Partners.Koo says, “When three of the largest government agencies align their strategic goals to increase access to affordable housing and transportation options while being environmentally responsible, there is a greater sense that ‘livable communities’ can truly be achieved in the near future.”Egan believes that the six principles will also include an important “affordability index” that will measure utility costs, encourage energy efficient mortgages and retrofits, or upgrades, that will translate into savings over the long-term.  “NHC strongly supports the enthusiastic and strategic partnership taking shape between these critical departments and agencies,” he adds.