July 14, 2010
What do the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have in common? A new federal partnership designed to implement joint housing and transportation initiatives that protect the environment, promote equitable development and help address the challenges of climate change.
How can the metro tap into opportunities created by this partnership? A new livability roundtable convened by Omaha by Design is beginning to map out the answer to this question.
In late 2009, the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities asked the Project for Public Spaces (PPS) to facilitate feedback from stakeholders across the country about the new effort, including nonprofits and government agencies. Omaha by Design was subsequently asked by PPS to coordinate a feedback session in Omaha, one of three U.S. cities invited to participate.
Omaha by Design Director Connie Spellman said the regional group convened for the feedback session included representatives of the Mayor’s Office, Omaha’s planning and public works departments, the planning department in Council Bluffs, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Young Professionals Council, the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, Metropolitan Community College, Environment Omaha, the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, RDG Planning and Design, Metro Area Transit, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Housing Association and the Nebraska Department of Roads.
Since the initial feedback session was held, the group continues to meet regularly under the facilitation of Omaha by Design to coordinate local efforts and explore funding opportunities for implementation projects that mirror the goals of the federal partnership:
- Providing more transportation choices;
- Promoting equitable, affordable housing;
- Increasing economic competitiveness;
- Supporting existing communities;
- Leveraging federal investment; and
- Valuing communities and neighborhoods.
“We’re still in the process of discovering which organization is doing what in terms of livability efforts and where our interests overlap as a region,” Spellman said. “We’re also starting to identify resources and technical assistance that could help create better access to affordable housing, more transportation options and lower transportation costs for our region of the country.”
A June 8 meeting of the livability roundtable was attended by regional representatives of the three federal partners. Updates on the group’s plans for the future will be provided as the information becomes available.