Reconnecting America has published a white paper offering policy recommendations for advancing transit-oriented development through the federal interagency partnership announced in June 2009 by the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency. The partnership announced six "livability principles" that will coordinate policy for federal transportation, environmental protection, and housing investments. The report, which is based on input from local and national stakeholders involved in TOD development, summarizes state, regional, and local efforts to support TOD development and includes a brief history of federal efforts to promote livable communities. The four policy recommendations described in the report are: a revamped, coordinated long-range planning process; developing new project funding priorities based on livability principles; implementing the housing and transportation affordability index, and enhancing comprehensive technical assistance programs. For more information, link to Realizing the Potential for Sustainable and Equitable TOD: Recommendations to the Interagency Partnership on Sustainable Communities. (11-18-09)

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The multiple public health benefits of strategies adopted by communities to promote sustainability are described in the League of California Cities’ monthly newsletter, Western Cities. Examples of the types of “co-benefits” inherent in sustainability strategies include the positive direct and indirect impacts on residents’ health from improvements to land use and transportation patterns, open space and transit, and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly facilities. The article also cites design strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation as examples of sustainability measures with multiple public co-benefits. For more information, link to The Co-Benefits of Sustainability Strategies. (11-5-09)

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The Center for Transportation and Environment (CTE) at N.C. State University, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, will present a webcast on Nov. 9, 2009, on the federal interagency partnership for sustainable communities announced in June 2009 by the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Environmental Protection Agency. The agreement established six "livability principles" that will coordinate policy for federal transportation, environmental protection, and housing investments. The webcast, which will include an overview of the partnership and highlight current efforts, is intended principally for management and staff of state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations, but also will be of interest to environmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and private-sector organizations. The webcast is scheduled for 12-2 pm EST. For more information and to register, link to the DOT-HUD-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities Webcast. (10-29-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have published a report documenting five case studies of effective multisector asset management systems that extend into multiple areas of publically owned infrastructure, such as highways, mass transit, water, and wastewater. Asset management provides a coordinated approach to managing infrastructure assets through their lifecycle. The case studies cover asset management applications in five communities: Calgary in Alberta and Hamilton in Ontario, Canada; Henderson, Nev.; Portland, Ore.; and Saco, Maine. According to FHWA, implementing a multisector asset management program will help infrastructure managers, elected officials, and community members focus on achieving the “triple bottom line” – communities that are socially desirable, environmentally safe, and economically sound far into the future. For more information, link to the Multisector Asset Management Case Studies and FHWA’s Multisector Asset Management website. (10-19-09)

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A new publication of the American Planning Association features essays by international experts on planning, development, energy, agricultural policy, and public health that discuss the opportunities and challenges of planning and designing sustainable communities. The book, “Green Communities,” is based on the National Building Museum’s Green Community Exhibition and focuses on the interconnectivity of density and transportation, conservation and preservation, energy and resources, and local and global health. For more information, link to the press release. The book is available for purchase online. (10-13-09)

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The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has posted to the Sustainability topic area of its website a podcast by ICMA member Randall Reid, County Manager of Alachua County, Fla., about the association’s work on the issue of sustainability and the role of ICMA and local government managers in building sustainable communities. For more information, link to the podcast. (10-7-09)

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The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, has released the latest in a series of reports on conditions and trends in world cities: Planning Sustainable Cities – Global Report on Human Settlements 2009. The report assesses the effectiveness of urban planning as a tool for meeting the challenges facing cities in the 21^st century, such as urban sprawl, unplanned periurban development, and climate change and other natural disasters. The report finds that traditional planning approaches largely have failed to promote equitable, efficient, and sustainable human settlements. The report also includes a review of recent urban planning practices; identifies innovative approaches such as strategic spatial planning and planning for new and more sustainable spatial forms such as compact cities and new urbanism; and underscores the need for a new role for urban planning in sustainable urban development. For more information and to order the report, link to Planning Sustainable Cities – Global Report on Human Settlements 2009. (10-6-09)

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The American Planning Association's professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), will host a symposium on Oct. 28, 2009, in Washington, D.C. on planning for sustainable communities. The symposium will feature panelist discussions on the six principles of sustainable communities described in the federal interagency partnership announced in June 2009 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, and Environmental Protection Agency. The symposium also will include discussions on topics related to fostering of more equitable and economically strong communities, such as increasing transportation choices and affordable housing opportunities, supporting existing communities; and leveraging of federal investment. For more information, link to the AICP Symposium – Planning for Sustainable Communities: It’s More Than Being Green. (10-6-09)

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An executive order issued by President Obama on Oct. 5, 2009, establishes sustainability goals for federal agencies, including a requirement that they set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2020 within 90 days. Other goals for federal agencies including a 30 percent reduction in vehicle fleet petroleum consumption by 2020, a 26 percent improvement in water efficiency by 2020, a 50 percent recycling and waste diversion rate by 2015, and a requirement that federal buildings achieve net-zero energy use by 2030. The order also sets a goal of advancing regional and local integrated planning. Under the order, each federal agency will be required to develop and implement an integrated strategic sustainability performance plan for meeting the goals. For more information, link to the news release and the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in  Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance. (10-5-09)

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The National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University has published a briefing document on concepts and practices for improving concrete pavement sustainability through its lifecycle, including design, materials selection, construction, operation, maintenance, restoration, rehabilitation, and recycling. The document is the first product of the Concrete Sustainability Track (Track 13) of the Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology (CP Road Map), a research plan sponsored by FHWA and developed with pavement industry stakeholders to deliver innovative pavement technologies for the 21^st century. The document defines sustainability, explains why the pavement industry should focus on enhancing sustainability, and describes seven principles for adopting sustainable concrete pavement solutions. The document also offers approaches to quantify sustainability factors and discusses research being conducted through the Sustainability Track of the CP Road Map. For more information, link to the Building Sustainable Pavements with Concrete Briefing Document and CP Road Map website. (10-1-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration and the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center are organizing the International Conference on Sustainable Concrete Pavements: Practices, Challenges, and Directions to be held Sept. 15-17, 2010, in Sacramento, Calif. The conference will feature discussion of the sustainable attributes of concrete pavements, including presentations on existing technologies, emerging research, approaches to measuring energy and environmental impact, user considerations, and international practices and experience. The conference also will present improved and innovative processes for achieving sustainable concrete pavements throughout the pavement’s life cycle. For more information, including conference topics, the preliminary technical program, and paper submission and peer review deadlines, link to the conference announcement and FHWA’s Concrete Pavements website. (9-29-09)

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A summary report and other resources from the May 2009 Sustainability Peer Exchange have been posted on the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO website. Sponsored by the Center, the peer exchange included discussions about partnerships across all modes and levels of government, planning and designing more efficient multi-modal systems, using "green" construction, and effective maintenance practices. Link to Sustainability Peer Exchange. (8-18-09)

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A new report published by the International Road Federation documents innovative projects, products, and practices from around the world that demonstrate sustainability in the road transport sector. Featured innovations include pavement recycling, wildlife protection systems, new methods to control runoff from roadways, advanced traffic signaling and electronic tolling, and others. For more information, link to Innovative Practices for Greener Roads. (7-17-09)

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Best practices for incorporating environmental commitments into construction and maintenance contract documents are featured in a report published for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 47). The report documents how state departments of transportation are incorporating commitments to avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental impacts into their contract documents for construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. Topics addressed include challenges to ensuring that environmental commitments are fully implemented during construction and maintenance, tracking systems currently used by DOTs, approaches to incorporating commitments into construction contract documents, and process improvements for reducing risk and monitoring contractor compliance. Among the report’s findings is that DOTs should implement more systematic and comprehensive systems to track environmental commitments across the project life cycle. For more information, link to Compendium of Best Practices for Incorporating Environmental Commitments into Transportation Construction and Maintenance Contract Documents (NCHRP 25-25, Task 47). (6-24-09)

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The extent to which state transportation agencies are using asset management techniques to manage environmental mitigation features is analyzed in a report produced for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 51). The report documents research findings related to the maintenance of environmental features, such as stormwater management facilities, wetland replacement projects, stream restoration projects, reforestation projects, construction of sound walls, wildlife crossing structures, and replacement of parklands. It also presents a compendium of the best practices, along with solutions and recommendations for improved management. Although the research found that most state DOTs lack a system for long-term maintenance of environmental assets, agencies including the Virginia DOT and Washington State DOT emerged as leaders in management of environmental assets. For more information, link to Asset Management of Environmental Mitigation Features. (6-19-09)

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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson have announced a new interagency partnership to advance policies that improve access to affordable housing, provide more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment. The “Partnership for Sustainable Communities” builds on a joint effort between DOT and HUD on coordinated transportation and housing policies announced in March 2009. The partnership also established six “livability principles” as a foundation for interagency coordination and promotion of sustainable communities. The principles are: provide more transportation choices; promote equitable, affordable housing; enhance economic competitiveness; support existing communities; coordinate policies and leverage investment; and value communities and neighborhoods. For more information, link to the DOT press release and EPA's Partnership for Sustainable Communities Website. (6-16-09)

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Friends of the National Center for Historic Preservation have published a set of principles on sustainability and historic preservation developed by participants at a November 2008 conference in Tarrytown, N.Y. The ‘Pocantico Symposium: Sustainability and Historic Preservation – Making Policy, Nov. 5-7, 2008,’ assembled an interdisciplinary group of preservationists, architects, green building designers, and energy experts to consider the implications of climate change on the future of historic preservation. The resulting Pocantico Proclamation on Sustainability and Historic Preservation underscores the central role that historic preservation must play in efforts to make the built environment more sustainable. It also offers as set of principles for policymakers: foster a culture of reuse; reinvest at a community scale; value heritage; capitalize on the potential of the green economy; and realign historic preservation policies with sustainability. In addition, the proclamation urges specific actions by preservation practitioners to implement sustainable solutions, addressing the roles of advocacy and education, public policy, and technical expertise. For more information, link to Pocantico Proclamation on Sustainability and Historic Preservation. (6-10-09)

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The Center for Transit-Oriented Development has published a collection of briefing papers for a February 2009 meeting that brought together stakeholders including developers, government officials, foundations, and others to discuss the roles each can play in advancing equitable and sustainable transit-oriented development (TOD). The briefing papers address issues of sustainable TOD, barriers to achieving it, and ways to promote it. They include a framing paper contrasting ideal TOD with current practice and papers analyzing the roles of the public sector, investors, private developers, and the philanthropic sector. For more information, link to Fostering Equitable and Sustainable Transit-Oriented Development. (6-2-09)

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The Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young have released the third in their annual series of infrastructure reports, “Infrastructure 2009: A Pivot Point,” citing the need for a new 21^st-century national infrastructure strategy that overhauls current federal policy and integrates land use and planning. The report suggests a four-pronged approach, including creating a national strategy that addresses population growth, rapid urbanization, and declining urban mobility; planning holistically to integrate transportation, energy, and environmental programs with land use planning and housing policies; consolidating government management of infrastructure policy; and changing funding approaches, including the establishment of a national infrastructure bank. The report also discusses the evolving infrastructure market, offers examples of innovative transportation systems and funding plans, and provides a comparison of international infrastructure investments. For more information, link to Infrastructure 2009: A Pivot Point. (4-20-09)

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