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March 23, 2022 By: Mariia Zimmerman

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Examining the (mis)coordination of public transportation and affordable housing in the US.

MZ Strategies, LLC is extremely pleased to have its research on the coordination of public transportation and affordable housing published today by the National Academies Press: TCRP Research Synthesis 162, “Coordination of Public Transit Services and Investments with Affordable Housing Policies.” This research provides a snapshot of past and present approaches to aligning transit and affordable housing. Through case studies of Atlanta, Boise, Chicago, Kansas City and the San Francisco Bay Area region, the report describes the ways that transit agencies and affordable housing policy makers and service providers are innovating and partnering, but also the significant gaps, missed opportunities and needs that remain unmet. The report includes results from a national survey of 51 transit agencies conducted during spring of 2021 that asked respondents to report on ways their own agencies were approaching coordination, and their perceptions of how well other regional housing partners consider and prioritize transit access.

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November 17, 2021 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #BipartisanInfrastructure, #USDOT, #ETOD, #TOD

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We've got the money. Now what? In search of Transportation Equity

MZ Strategies analysis of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law on November 15, 2021 focuses on its potential to advance transportation equity and support equitable transit oriented development. The bill provides historic funding levels, several important new discretionary grant programs, but little policy change. The likely result will be expansion of our status quo system unless planners, engineers, and community advocates come together to reform, rethink and reprioritize our nation’s infrastructure. The bill creates that potential, but it is a heavy lift that requires all hands on deck.

March 16, 2017 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #infrastructure, #LentenAppeal, #PopeFrancis, #Trump infrastructure, #transit, #CDBG, #Trump budget, #FY2018 budget, #HUD, #USDOT, #Brookings

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In Response to Trump Budget, A Lenten Appeal for America's Communities

It’s that time of year again. For Catholics, March is Lent, a time of commitment to sacrifice and good deeds. It’s also when we get the annual Lenten Appeal request to tithe in support of the Church’s ability to serve as God’s emissary on earth and help those most in need. In Washington DC, March is budget season. The time of year when the Administration unveils its spending priorities for the coming year and when Congress demonstrates where it will invest the trillions of dollars provided by American taxpayers. This year, the disconnect between God’s priorities and Republican priorities could not be more clear, unless we focus only on the word sacrifice.

October 23, 2015 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #transportation, #STRRAct, #USDOT, #transit, #transportationsafety, #APTA, #streamlining, #uscm, #nrdc

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STiRRing things up in transportation … for the worse

My take on the House of Representatives transportation authorization bill: The Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act (STRR) is not good for the environment, does not genuinely address safety and maintenance needs, is not good for social equity, does not adequately fund our transportation system and is not great for the economy. I’ll just say it …. I’d rather have yet another continuing resolution of the current bill than go down the STRR path for the next 6 years. America needs and deserves better. Congress needs to keep stirring until they get it right.

March 09, 2015 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #FTA, #transit, #USDOT, #new starts, #affordable housinig, #equitableTOD

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Transit as an Affordable Housing Tool? The Feds Think So!

Transit can be a powerful catalyst. Transit advocates like to argue about the positive economic development impacts that a new rail line can have on adjacent property. Community advocates argue against transit as a gentrification tool. In reality, both may be right and the latest "Annual New Starts Recommendations" issued in February by the Federal Transit Administration at USDOT asks communities wanting federal funding for their transit project to consider these trade-offs. Public funds are simply too scarce to not ensure that we are getting multiple benefits and maximum efficiency from every dollar invested. The latest MZ Strategies policy brief, Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing Through the Federal Transit Capital Investment Program, offers examples of how some communities are threading this needle.

March 04, 2014 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #FY2015budget, #MAP21, #transportation, #sustainability, #USDOT, #HUD

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It’s Budget Time Again in Washington

Transportation highlights from the FY2015 budget released today by the Obama Administration seek to put reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program on the political radar before we run out of money this summer. Will Congress kick the can until after the mid-term elections? The President's Budget Proposal provide fodder and ideas about ways to pay for it through tax reform that may motivate advocates and the Hill to act in the coming months, or at least elevate the national debate.

January 10, 2014 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #War on Poverty, #HUD, #USDOT, #FTA, #income inequality, #community development, #Fair Housing, #transit, #urban planning, #poverty

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Looking Back and Looking Ahead on 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty

In reflecting on notable achievements from 2013, I am struck by three separate federal actions that received little fanfare but are important to the War on Poverty’s arsenal. Each respond to one of the most profound lessons we have learned over the past 50 years -- the causes of poverty are often inter-related and cannot be successfully addressed by only focusing on housing, or education, or employment. Rather, integrated approaches are needed.

September 10, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #TIGER, #transit, #community development, #new starts, #USDOT, #Enterprise Community Partners, #sustainable communities

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For USDOT it's Transportation for Communities

Two recent announcements by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) may have long-term impact on community development practitioners. In August, the Federal Transit Administration issued final guidance for its Capital Investment Program which funds New Starts and Small Starts transit projects (think subways, streetcars, light rail and bus rapid transit). And last week Secretary Foxx announced the latest round of TIGER grant recipients in 37 states (think big money for big transportation projects). With both of these announcements, USDOT signaled its recognition that these kind of large infrastructure investments can profoundly influence the way communities develop and markets respond.

August 21, 2013 By: Mariia Zimmerman

Tags: #planning, #MAP21, #MPO, #USDOT, #livablecommunities, #livability

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Navigating the Regional Transportation Funding Maze

I’ve spent a fair amount of my “summer vacation” examining how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) use their planning and programming tools to support livable communities. This is a question that a growing number of regions are interested in learning to help them make better investments with scarce public resources. While still far too opaque, best practices are emerging. MZ Strategies, LLC is involved with several efforts to help spread the word.