CNU says sustainability funding at risk

Houston has $3.75M grant

Marci Gilbert, Feb 15, 11.

As the Obama Administration releases a budget that pleases some transit advocates, the Congress for the New Urbanism warns that promising HUD, DOT, and EPA sustainable communities programs are facing the Congressional axe, according to a story in New Urban Network:

“We want to alert you to an impending threat to some relatively small but important programs that are on the chopping block in DC,” wrote CNU CEO and President John Norquist and Chair Victor Dover. “Yesterday morning NY Times columnist and economist Paul Krugman warned about cuts to programs that can build a stronger future for America. There may be no better example than the attack on Sustainability planning grant programs. These grants fund planning that can save energy and increase productivity in communities across America.”

About the Partnership for Sustainable Communities:

It is an unprecedented partnership between the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), US Department of Transportation (DOT), and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bring together housing, transportation, and environmental resources at the federal level to promote sustainable land use and transportation.

This partnership has worked together on 107 grants for planning-related activities through both Sustainable Communities and TIGER II grants, Reconnecting America reports. Forty-five regions and 61 individual communities received planning grants. DOT also issued another 42 TIGER II grants for capital projects, in addition to its previous award of 51 TIGER I grants in February, 2010. Approximately 59 of the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) received some type of award, the organization reports. Of the 50 largest MSAs, 40 received an award.

Houston received a $3,750,000 Sustainable Communities Partnership grant last October to be used for region-wide sustainable planning headed by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC).

In an email letter to CNU members, Norquist and Dover explain:

“The House Appropriations Committee’s 2011-12 budget proposal completely eliminates the HUD, USDOT, and EPA Sustainability programs. The new GOP majority also plans to try to rescind dollars already awarded by the Sustainability and TIGER grant programs. The Senate (which retains a Democratic majority) and President Barack Obama would have to agree to the cuts, but the Sustainability programs are at great risk as other appropriations with organized interest groups supporting them also face reductions. The highway lobby and the housing industry, for example, will be aggressively defending what they see as their interests.”

Source: New Urban Network