Up to $175 million in Federal Transit Administration livability grants are now available to aid urban, suburban and rural communities create transit options to connect people to where they live and work. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the available funds on Thursday, which was the second anniversary of the creation of the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The aim of livability grants is to assure that transportation and house decisions are made jointly and recognize the character of each community.
The competitive grant program will begin accepting applications during the week of June 20.
Nearly $150 million of the livability funding available comes from the Bus and Bus Facilities Program, which provides money to purchase or replace buses and to build bus-related facilities.
“Coordinated transportation and housing planning can make the best use of scarce federal dollars and can help create jobs, lower transportation costs and reduce our dependence on oil,” said Secretary LaHood. “Communities where people have access to affordable housing and different forms of transportation to get to places that are important to them are communities where people want to live.”
For more, visit www.fta.dot.gov.