Transportation Grants Pave the Way for Community Reconnection and Resilience

NEW ORLEANS — In an era where infrastructure often divides communities, new federal transportation grant programs are aiming to reverse this trend, fostering reconnection, resilience, and equity across the United States. These initiatives are not just rebuilding roads and bridges; they're attempting to heal the wounds inflicted by decades of misguided urban planning and environmental neglect.

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched a series of grant programs that address critical infrastructure needs while prioritizing community engagement and sustainable development. These initiatives are reshaping the landscape of American cities and towns, with a particular focus on areas historically marginalized by past infrastructure projects.

Reconnecting Communities: Undoing the Damage of the Past

The Reconnecting Communities grant program, which closed applications on September 30, stands at the forefront of this transformative approach. With a mission to repair the damage done by divisive infrastructure projects of the past, the program supports initiatives that produce pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and prioritizes workforce development, equitable development, and economic growth.

This program is a direct response to the urban renewal policies of the mid-20th century that devastated many minority neighborhoods. In the 1950s and 1960s, under the banner of progress, city planners and federal officials embarked on ambitious highway projects that cut through the heart of urban America. These projects, often dubbed "urban renewal," disproportionately affected Black and Latino neighborhoods, displacing thousands of residents and severing tight-knit communities.

In New Orleans, for instance, the construction of Interstate 10 through the Tremé neighborhood — one of the oldest African American communities in the United States — led to the destruction of hundreds of homes and businesses along North Claiborne Avenue, once a thriving corridor of Black-owned enterprises. Similar stories played out in cities across the country, from Charlotte’s historic West End communities to Miami's Overtown. Today, cities like Charlotte are seeking to right these historical wrongs. Their aim is to bridge structural divides through the creation of safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation networks that reconnect marginalized communities to essential services and community resources.

“In Charlotte, it's a priority of the city to reinvest in historically underinvested communities to ensure equitable access to critical resources,” said Anthony S. Mendez, PE, Corridors of Opportunity Infrastructure Strategy and Development Manager of Charlotte.

Central to the success of these grant programs is the active involvement of communities that have historically been disenfranchised by infrastructure projects. The USDOT emphasizes that local residents must have a strong voice in shaping the plans to redress past inequities and in overseeing long-term implementation. This approach marks a significant departure from top-down planning practices of the past. This shift towards community-led planning ensures that projects address the real needs of residents, from improved pedestrian safety to the preservation of cultural landmarks. Moreover, it builds local capacity for ongoing involvement in urban development, creating a framework for sustained community empowerment long after the initial projects are completed. By centering the voices of those most affected by past injustices, these grants are not just rebuilding infrastructure, but also restoring agency and trust in communities that have long been marginalized in urban planning processes.

Success stories are already emerging from the Reconnecting Communities program. In Birmingham, Alabama, the "Reconnecting 4th Ave N: A Two-Way Vision for Reviving Legacy and Inspiring Progress" project exemplifies the program's potential. The project aims to revitalize a historic corridor, balancing modern transportation needs with community preservation.

“The 4th Ave N project is a redesign of Birmingham’s Black Main Street from a one-way street to two-way street in order to help reconnect downtown neighborhoods and businesses divided by the construction of Interstate 65 in the 1960s,” said Colin Alexander, the City of Birmingham’s Department of Transportation Program Manager. “The success of this project will revive the connectivity and access to all of Birmingham’s resources that helped the community thrive prior to its division.”

Similarly, Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; and Slidell, Louisiana have secured funding for projects that promise to knit their communities back together. These initiatives go beyond mere infrastructure improvements; they're about restoring the social fabric of neighborhoods that have long borne the brunt of misguided urban planning.

Charging Ahead: The Push for Clean Transportation

Complementing these efforts is the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, which closed its application period on September 11. This initiative supports the buildout of alternative fuel infrastructure for communities and corridors, paving the way for increased adoption of electric vehicles in both public transit and fleets.

The urgency of this transition cannot be overstated. Vehicle emissions have long been a major contributor to air pollution, with devastating health consequences for communities near high-traffic areas. Studies have shown that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with increased rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death.

The shift to electric and other alternative fuel vehicles promises to dramatically reduce these health burdens. Cities like Durham, North Carolina, and regional bodies like Henrico County, Virginia; and the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) have already secured funding under this program, positioning themselves at the forefront of the clean transportation revolution.

Jonathan Philipsborn, Climate and Resilience Manager at the Atlanta Regional Commission explains, “The Atlanta Regional Commission's Electric Vehicle Charging Program aims to leverage federal grant funding to create an innovative approach to advancing sustainable transportation with electric vehicles as well as fostering a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future for its community. By prioritizing equitable access to electric vehicle infrastructure, ARC aims to advance social and environmental justice, promote economic development, and create a cleaner, more equitable and sustainable transportation system.”

Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change

Looking ahead, the USDOT's Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant program is gearing up to address another critical aspect of modern infrastructure: resilience. With a focus on mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and flooding, PROTECT aims to ensure that transportation systems can withstand the challenges posed by climate change.

The need for such resilience has never been more apparent. In recent years, we've seen how extreme weather events can cripple transportation networks, isolating communities and hampering recovery efforts. From Hurricane Debby’s flooding of communities across the Southeast to the recent devastation from Hurricanes Helene in Western North Carolina and Milton in Florida, the vulnerability of our infrastructure to climate-related disasters is clear.

The PROTECT program encourages innovative approaches to resilience, such as nature-based solutions that work with natural ecosystems to enhance flood protection, and the development of adaptive infrastructure that can be quickly modified in response to changing conditions such as strengthening critical evacuation routes that can become the only way of escape during natural disasters.

SSDN: Empowering Communities to Seize Opportunities

As these programs gain momentum, cities across the Southeast are mobilizing to seize these opportunities and more, like Safe Streets for All and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program. However, many smaller municipalities and under-resourced communities often lack the capacity to navigate the complex federal grant application process. This is where the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN) plays a crucial role.

SSDN provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to help local governments and community organizations develop competitive grant applications. Their program has been instrumental in empowering communities across the Southeast to access federal funding for sustainable infrastructure projects.

"Many cities have great ideas and know what they want to address but struggle with the technical aspects of grant writing or lack the staff capacity or data to support their proposals," said Nick Deffley, Director of Federal Resources at SSDN. "We provide the expertise and resources to help them turn their visions into fundable projects."

SSDN's approach has already yielded impressive results. Throughout the southeast, SSDN's technical assistance helped secure over $277 million in funding for resilience projects that will benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. This success demonstrates the power of targeted support in helping communities access transformative federal funding.

Charlotte, North Carolina worked with SSDN to develop applications for the Reconnecting Communities program. Meanwhile, Virginia Beach, Virginia; the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina; and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments in South Carolina pursued Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grants with SSDN's support.

A New Era of Community-Centered Infrastructure

The enthusiasm for these programs underscores a growing recognition that transportation infrastructure can be a tool for community empowerment rather than division. By prioritizing equity, sustainability, and resilience, these grant initiatives are not just rebuilding America's physical infrastructure — they're reimagining the very fabric of our communities.

As the application deadlines approach, all eyes are on the innovative proposals emerging from cities and regions across the country. The projects funded through these programs promise to shape the future of American transportation, creating safer, cleaner, and more connected communities for generations to come.

The road ahead is long, and the challenges are significant. But with continued investment, community engagement, and a commitment to equity and sustainability, we have the opportunity to build a transportation system that truly serves all Americans. As we move forward, it's crucial that we learn from the mistakes of the past and ensure that our infrastructure investments build bridges between communities rather than walls.

To learn more about SSDN's program for technical assistance, visit SSDN's website or contact Nick Deffley at nick@southeastsdn.org or Krista Early at krista@southeastsdn.org.