The drive to develop strategic housing projects with transportation needs of an aging population got a boost last week when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded nearly $68 million to help stimulate a new generation of sustainable and livable communities. These communities are focused on connecting housing, employment and economic development with transportation and other infrastructure improvements through regional partnerships across the country. The funds will be used by communities, large and small, to address local challenges to integrating transportation and housing that includes funds for senior housing and accessibility.
“Today two federal agencies come together to produce a win-win for local communities around the country,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “We’re helping local and regional planners connect all the dots in their efforts to make their communities more sustainable and livable. These grants will help communities to hit on all cylinders, producing more affordable housing near good jobs and commercial centers which will help to reduce our energy consumption and increase competitiveness.”
As part of the announcement, HUD is awarding $40 million in new Sustainable Community Challenge Grants to help support local planning designed to integrate affordable housing, good jobs and public transportation. Meanwhile, DOT is awarding nearly $28 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II Planning Grants to implement localized plans that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and economic development.
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said, “With the investments HUD and DOT are making today, we are strengthening neighborhoods by connecting housing with affordable and sustainable transportation choices. This is a win-win for people who live in these communities because they will have travel options to better serve them.”
