EPA, DOT and HUD Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities

Together, EPA, DOT and HUD aim to better integrate federal decision-making and policy creation on transportation, environmental protection and housing choice. To achieve this goal, the partnership has established six livability principles:

1. Provide more transportation choices.
2. Promote more equitable, affordable housing.
3. Enhance economic competitiveness.
4. Support existing communities.
5. Coordinate policies and leverage investment.
6. Value communities and neighborhoods.

In furtherance of these goals, the partnership will undertake a series of actions that aims to address the livability principles. These actions include:

• Proposing planning grants, available to metropolitan areas, which will promote and further integration of housing, transportation, water infrastructure, and land use planning and investment.
• Synchronize planning efforts in the areas of transportation, housing, and air and water quality in order to better use federal monies.
• Creating a more precise housing affordability index which accurately reflects the true costs of transportation and location choices.
• Addressing environmental justice concerns through the redevelopment of underutilitzed sites where there is existing infrastructure and transportation.
• Developing analytical tools and measures which can assist communities to benchmark their progress on livability; creating incentives for localities to publicize the results of their analysis.
• Providing technical assistance programs on a state and local basis that assist in coordination of housing, transportation and environmental protection initiatives.
• Identifying potential areas of coordination within each agency's programs that will allow better alignment in transportation and housing choices.
• Beginning joint research that establishes key standardized performance measures and identifies best practices.

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