The Transportation for America campaign unveiled its blueprint for transportation reform at a press conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, calling for less driving, more transit, and a wholesale restructuring of federal programs. This broad coalition of elected officials, environmental and equity groups, trade associations, developers and realtors and many others is calling on Congress to not increase taxes to provide more transportation funding unless it also institutes critical reforms.

The Congress for the New Urbanism's 17th annual gathering is in Denver this year, June 10-14, and the Denver-bound California Zephyr will roll out of San Francisco with special cars for New Urbanists. Reconnecting America is helping sponsor this 1,400-mile salon-in-motion, which will follow the original transcontinental rail route, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful journeys in the world. Among those hosting the salon’s conversation is Robert Davis, visionary founder and developer of Seaside, Florida, considered the birthplace of the New Urbanist movement. Davis is a principal of Arcadia Land Company, and a CNU board member. The topic of this year’s CNU conference is urban recovery and the re-urbanization of America, the quest for energy efficiency, the dramatic growth in smaller households, and the yearning for neighborhood connections and freedom from the automobile. Featured speakers include CEOs for Cities’ Carol Coletta, Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory and Denver…

The national nonprofit Center for Neighborhood Technology, a partner in the Center for Transit-Oriented Development, was one of only eight organizations worldwide to receive the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. CNT was recognized for pioneering new approaches to urban problems that use resources more efficiently, reduce costs for households and communities, and improve the environment. The award recognizes organizations that are “highly creative and effective, have made an extraordinary impact in their fields and are helping to address some of the world’s most challenging problems.” “The MacArthur Foundation has a long history of supporting organizations around the world like these that demonstrate the creativity, drive, and vision to make the world more just and peaceful,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton. “These organizations may be small but their impact is tremendous. From…

US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood addressed a Senate committee April 28, advocating a bold new direction for federal transportation policy that prioritizes investments that reduce driving and enhance economic recovery, public safety, livable and sustainable communities, accountability, transparency and performance. His remarks indicate that his priorities line up almost exactly with the priorities of the Transportation for America campaign that Reconnecting America co-chairs.

Transportation for America Director James Corless testified before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today (April 28), saying the US needs a cohesive national transportation policy with clear objectives and performance measures to gauge progress. He said these measures should include reducing driving by 16 percent in 20 years, and tripling walking, biking and transit use. Reconnecting America co-chairs the “T4America” campaign, which is working with Congress on reauthorizing the six-year federal transportation bill that provides hundreds of billions of dollars for transportation projects. The coalition has grown to include 250 organizations ranging from AARP to the National Association of Realtors, and 18,000 individuals and elected officials.

Sacramento Regional Transit’s recently completed “A Guide To Transit Oriented Development” has been added to Reconnecting America’s Best Practices database.

In honor of Earth Day and in partnership with Cinema Libre Studio and Grapeflix, Reconnecting America would like to invite you to view David M. Edwards' powerful new documentary, Sprawling From Grace: The Consequences of Suburbanization, online for free! The film features former President Bill Clinton, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, Reconnecting America CEO Shelley Poticha, Dena Belzer of Strategic Economics, our partner in the Center for Transit-Oriented Development, and many other leaders on the issues of suburban sprawl and the need for better public transportation, centralized planning and renewable energy.

President Obama announced his plan for a new national network of high-speed rail April 16, saying this investment is necessary to unclog traffic, reduce America’s dependence on oil, and improve the environment. The president cited the success of Europe’s high-speed rail, identified 10 likely rail corridors for funding, and said funding would come from the stimulus plan, as well as a five-year investment plan.