National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure and

ServicesSteering Committee Meeting

Developing a framework for communicating livability

Friday, July, 20, 2012

Agenda

•Welcome and Introductions•Project Overview•Question Session/Message Testing•Questions/Discussion

Welcome & Introductions

• Erika Young, Transportation Director, National Association of Regional Councils

• Valerie Hermanson, Research Fellow, National Association of Regional Councils

Project Overview•2-yr project led by NARC with support from partners

– APWA – NLC – NACo– ICMA – US FHWA– US FTA

•Translate federal livability principles into tactics and mechanisms to plan, create and implement local and regional solutions•Extensive documentation review•Refining content with advisory group, workshop & focus group feedback•Final product: Guidebook “how-to” implement livability on a local level

Planners

Local Elected Officials

Practitioners

Audiences

Workshop GoalsFeedback!

Information from this session will help to inform our final product and frame our communication of livability messages

•How do you communicate certain messages to your constituents?•Are there particular hot button issues or words that you encounter?•What livability related language do you agree or disagree with?

US DOT, EPA and HUD Partnership for Sustainable

Communities

Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PSC) Livability Definition:

“Livable communities are places where transportation, housing and commercial development investments have been coordinated so that

people have access to adequate, affordable and environmentally sustainable travel options.”

Sec. LaHood:

“Being able to take your kids to school, go to work, see a doctor, drop by the grocery or post office, go out to dinner and a movie, and play with

your kids in a park, all without having to get in your car.”

(US DOT Strategic Plan http://www.dot.gov/stratplan/)

The Partnership's

Livability Principles:Provide more transportation choices

Promote equitable, affordable housing

Enhance economic competitiveness

Support Existing Communities

Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment

Value communities and neighborhoods

Livability Principle 1

Providing more transportation choices often means

•Developing safe, reliable, and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs

•Reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil

•Improving air quality

•Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

•Promoting public health

Livability Principle 1Provide more transportation choices

Livability Principle 1Provide more transportation choices

Livability Principle 1Provide more transportation choices

Livability Principle 1Provide more transportation choices

Livability Principle 2

Promote equitable, affordable housing often means

•Expanding location and energy efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races and ethnicities

•Increasing mobility

•Lowering the combined cost of housing and transportation

Livability Principle 2Promote equitable, affordable housing

Livability Principle 2Promote equitable, affordable housing

Livability Principle 2Promote equitable, affordable housing

Livability Principle 2Promote equitable, affordable housing

Livability Principle 3

Enhance economic competitiveness often means •Improving economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to

– Employment centers– Educational opportunities– Services– Other basic needs by workers

•Expanded businesses access to markets

Livability Principle 3Enhance economic competitiveness

Livability Principle 3Enhance economic competitiveness

Livability Principle 3Enhance economic competitiveness

Livability Principle 3Enhance economic competitiveness

Livability Principle 4

Support existing communities often means •Targeting federal funding toward existing communities through strategies like

– Transit oriented, mixed-use development– Land recycling

• Increasing community revitalization

• Efficiency of public works investments

• Safe guard rural landscapes

Livability Principle 4Support existing communities

Livability Principle 4Support existing communities

Livability Principle 4Support existing communities

Livability Principle 4Support existing communities

Livability Principle 5

Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment often means •Aligning federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration

•Leveraging funding

•Increasing the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth

•Making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy

Livability Principle 5Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment

Livability Principle 5Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment

Livability Principle 5Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment

Livability Principle 5Coordinate and leverage federal policies and investment

Livability Principle 6

Value communities and neighborhoods often means

•Enhancing the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods – rural, urban or suburban

Livability Principle 6Value communities and neighborhoods

Livability Principle 6Value communities and neighborhoods

Livability Principle 6Value communities and neighborhoods

Livability Principle 6Value communities and neighborhoods

Final Questions

Is there anything about today’s session that we have not asked but you would like to share with us?

For more information, please contact NARC staff:

THANK YOU FOR

PARTICIPATING!

Erika YoungTransportation Directorerika@narc.org202.986.1032, x 212