As members of the Transportation Equity Caucus, a diverse coalition of organizations promoting policies that ensure access, mobility, and opportunity for all, we appreciate the opportunity to submit this statement for the record today to express our priorities for the financing of the Highway Trust Fund.

Adequate federal transportation investments can lay a strong foundation for economic growth and expand opportunity for millions of people. Strategic federal investments in transportation can transform struggling communities, unleash untapped human potential, and promote local economic development to allow all people to thrive. When transportation funding decisions are driven by economic and social equity, we can build transportation system that works for everyone, regardless of income, race or zip code.

The Transportation Equity Caucus applauds President Obama for raising the critical issue of long-term, sustained investment in transportation infrastructure during his State of the Union address.

PolicyLink is pleased to offer the following comments on the proposed rulemaking on the National Performance Management Measures for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). As a leader in the movement to build more equitable infrastructures, PolicyLink is supportive of policies and investments that enhance access to safe and reliable transportation options. Moreover, safe, accessible transportation infrastructure – including streets, crosswalks and sidewalks – are critical to connecting people to economic opportunity.

Shared-mobility programs like bike-share and car-share have significant potential to benefit low-income users, yet often do not reach that population. This report examines the specific opportunities and challenges facing shared mobility programs in expanding services to low-income communities.

Transportation is a critical link to ensuring opportunity for all connecting us to jobs, schools, housing, health care, and grocery stores. Even more, transportation planning and investment decisions; what we build, where it is placed, and who builds it – is central to creating equitable regions. Urban and rural communities that have sought to target transportation resources to places and people most in need have successfully maximized economic, environmental, and social equity benefits for the entire region. This webinar focused on how to incorporate equity into the transportation decision-making process in order to foster just and fair inclusion.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is pleased to submit comments on the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning and Metropolitan Transportation Planning documents. This NPRM sets the stage for regions to establish a framework for efficient planning and better use of both federal and local resources to create a coordinated metropolitan planning structure.