The Office of Livability . . . imagine transportation choices for everyone

Photo Credit: Project for Public Spaces, www.pps.org

This week the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released its draft of the transportation bill, called the Surface Transportation Authorization Act to unanimous approval. Although the overall bill is expected to ultimately include around $450-500 billion over six years, no funding levels are included for any program at this point. The bill is instead meant to outline the new structure for surface transportation programs and policy changes and includes establishing new leadership in a new division of the Federal Highway Administration to be called the Office of Livability.

Some Key Responsibilities include:

• Authority for Safe Routes to School.
• Increasing transportation options and quality of life.
• Administering bicycle and pedestrian programs, including Transportation Enhancements, the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, Recreational Trails, Scenic Byways, and the new US Bicycle Route system.
• Developing mode share targets and timelines for accomplishing them, compiling best practices and collecting data /doing research on the benefits of Livable Communities with access to walking, biking and public transit.

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