Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
Climate Change

Senators Propose $4 Billion for Transit-Oriented Development Grants

Making good on a vow first reported
in Streetsblog Capitol Hill, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris
Dodd (D-CT) and three colleagues today offered a bill authorizing $4
billion in grants to help states and cities pursue transit-oriented
development, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and other green
transport projects.

dodd_working.jpgSenate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) (Photo: Washington Note)

The
legislation aims to put some teeth in the goals of the inter-agency
Sustainable Communities effort that the Obama administration launched earlier this year.
Dodd's plan would create an office within the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) to spearhead the work and administer two new
competitive grant programs.

The first, slated for $400 million over four years, would help
states and cities implement regional plans that integrate sustainable
housing, transportation, and community development.

The
second, slated for $3.75 billion over three years, would assist
localities in making their plans materialize, from affordable housing
to bike-ped access. Both grant programs would need to be separately
funded through appropriations bills, but authorizing the spending is a
crucial first step.

The bill is co-sponsored by Banking panel
Democrats Robert Menendez (NJ), Michael Bennet (CO), and Jeff Merkley
(OR). Here is Dodd's statement on the measure:

Asour communities grow, people are commuting longer distances on more crowdedroadways. Those are precious hours theycould be spending with their families, and precious dollars wasted ongas. We must change the way we plan for the future of our communities andtackle these challenges with a coordinatedstrategy.

A House counterpart bill has yet to be introduced.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog San Francisco

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Extend the Central Subway to North Beach

There are abandoned tunnels under Stockton Street: here’s how they could transform San Francisco’s subway system.

May 8, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Normal’ is Not Correct, Someone Died Here

After a crash, the debris is quickly cleaned up and everyone moves on (usually too quickly). But these two experts are asking us to all slow down.

May 8, 2025

LA Metro Names Former SFPD Chief Bill Scott as Chief of Police

Chief Scott and Metro leadership emphasized that keeping Metro transit safe would require a multi-faceted approach that included the deployment of officers as well as collaboration with the community, ambassadors, and service providers. "Sometimes enforcement is the answer," Scott said. "Sometimes it's not."

May 7, 2025
See all posts