Tuesday, December 08, 2009
King of Prussia BID
Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood recently announced the availability of $280 million for the funding of inner-city streetcar projects. This announcement follows a national trend, including 45 cities throughout the United States and Canada seriously considering the implementation of streetcars within their boundaries. The announcement itself was made in New Orleans, which has requested $100 million for a new French Quarter line.
One of the shining examples of street car networks can be found in Portland, Oregon, a city which reversed the trend of light rail transit systems to focus on a downtown street car line in 2001. This project encouraged transit oriented development, leading to $3.5 billion in new construction, 10,000 new residential units and more than 5 million square feet of office/hotel space within the city. It is the success of this system which has created renewed interest in our nation’s street car systems.
“This grant program will create jobs and reduce pollution while saving commuters in Connecticut and across the country time and money,” said Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT), author of legislation to help towns and regions plan and implement development projects that integrate needs for transportation, housing, land use, and economic development. “I look forward to working with the Department of Transportation, along with HUD and EPA, as we work to make communities across the country more livable.”
A maximum amount of $25 million per project will be made available from approximately $130 million in unallocated discretionary New Starts/Small Starts Program funds.
Eligible projects include streetcars and other urban circulator systems. Priority will be given to projects that connect destinations and foster the redevelopment of communities into walkable, mixed use, high-density environments.
A second pot of money totaling $150 million in unallocated discretionary Bus and Bus Facility funds will be available for projects that will foster the preservation and enhancement of urban and rural communities by providing new mobility options which provide access to jobs, healthcare, and education, and/or contribute to the redevelopment of neighborhoods into pedestrian-friendly vibrant environments.
More information on the funding announcement can be found HERE
Posted by Scott Greenly, GVF
0 comments:
Post a Comment