Smart Growth America and the Coalition for Smarter Growth, our local DC regional partner, welcomed thirty other state and regional smart growth organizations from around the country to Washington, DC this week for their annual meeting, including a day of meeting with their legislators and encouraging them to support their efforts to build strong communities.
From left, Stewart Schwartz (Coalition for Smarter Growth), Anthony Brown, Dru Schmidt-Perkins (1000 Friends of Maryland), Dan Levine (Transportation for America).
“We come to the Hill to speak with our members of Congress because the investments the federal government makes in infrastructure and housing have a real impact on the communities back home,” explained Jack Machek, President & CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania.
Most partners focused not just on urban, but also on suburban and rural mobility, since many people don’t recognize how much transit and paratransit programs provide access — particularly in rural areas and smaller towns. “There are large populations of senior folks who live in rural communities and are stuck at home due to lack of mobility,” Machek continued.
“Investments in transit can help take care of those populations and provide mobility options to get people where they need to go.” Greater Ohio Policy Center Executive Director, Alison Goebel, agreed, “It’s all about creating access for all Ohioans, such as those who live outside of metro areas. We want to secure complementary state funding for our federal opportunities.”
Ed note: For more on what’s at stake in the current federal budget for transit in rural areas, see this new memo from our Transportation for America program.