Barack Obama is creating the first Office of Urban Policy. What are the top priorities?
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1,879 votes
Invest in a world-class rail network
Build a world-class rail system between cities and within them to transport people and goods more efficiently.
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1,132 votes
Change zoning laws to promote walkable development
Change zoning and land-use regulations to promote mixed-use walkable development.
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1,046 votes
End subsidies for car-dependent development
Walkable developments currently subsidize car-dependent developments. End the subsidies for car-dependent development by requiring developers to pay the true cost of utilities and transportation in sprawling developments.
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657 votes
Promote Urban Farming
Our nation's food system is extremely unsustainable in terms of energy use, water use, land use, ecological systems, community, and economics. Shifting food production to a more localized system in that is in close proximity to the population it sustains (in urban areas or immediately adjacent ... more
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628 votes
Make affordable housing a priority
Affordable housing is necessary in urban areas, especially in these troubled economic times. Recognize and build on the work of successful affordable housing initiatives/programs/non-profits.
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506 votes
Complete Streets Legislation
Create federal guidelines for urban street development that takes account all road users. This includes pedestrians, bicycles, buses, automobiles and trucks. Success of roads should never be measured by movement of private automobiles alone.
Cities are about the mobility of people, not moving a... more
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496 votes
Raise gas taxes
Price pressure is the only way to get Americans to change their bad habits. The change in lifestyle we need will take too long if we just subsidize smarter development. The money raised should be directed to mass transit, pedestrian, and bicycle infrastructure.
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410 votes
Apply "highway" funds to streets that serve all users
To build an efficient green economy, we need to move beyond the single-minded focus of many current transportation models and FHWA programs on moving cars and trucks. The better goal is moving people comfortably where they want to go, whether the best choice is walking, biking, riding transit or ... more
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371 votes
Create an alternative energy infrastructure system
support the development of charging stations for electric vehicles and "green fuel" stations, especially in dense/urban areas.
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332 votes
Find ways to support regional coordination/planning.
We live regionally, but few places in the country have been able to mobilize themselves to think and plan that way. People, jobs, goods, animals, air, water, etc. all move across and through regions all the time. Many of the problems we need to solve (CO2, GHG, vibrant economies) require us to ... more
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255 votes
Prioritize transportation and infrastructure investments
Reprioritize how federal transportation and infrastructure dollars are allocated to incentivize compact walkable communities rather than sprawl. Significant infrastructure improvements and investments in schools, parks, libraries, etc are needed to support compact, well-planned growth. The curr... more
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204 votes
End the transportation funding formula that rewards miles
End the transportation bill formula that rewards regions that have more miles driven, and instead reward regions with greater milage reduction.
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201 votes
Create more financing options for mixed-use development
Create more and longer-term financing options for walkable developments that encourage the built environment to be built for the long-term.
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172 votes
Invest in regional public infrastructure projects
Many wastewater treatment plants and water distribution systems have reached the end of their 50-year life cycle and are badly in need of upgrades. Moreover, the majority of jurisdictions do not have the funds to construct regional stormwater treatment facilities. This office could set new, sust... more
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132 votes
Triple the Community Development Block Grant program.
It's time to increase public funding for the oldest and most successful federal urban program in U.S. history, CDBG. It has been historically underfunded, but remains the most flexible and locally oriented urban program in existence.
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131 votes
Appoint Youth Representatives to Advise on Urban Policy
Youth are often overlooked in urban planning processes, yet the decisions made will affect them powerfully. By engaging youth, you can improve conditions for all bikers, pedestrians, and vulnerable populations. In addition, young people will become active citizens for the rest of their lives!
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99 votes
Encourage equitable development to improve quality of life
Support planning and development practices that attempt to curb urban sprawl while enabling vulnerable groups and families to participate in and benefit from economic growth and activity as communities rebound.
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97 votes
Make it easy for "green" industries to locate in urban areas
Streamlining permitting and zoning to allow small-scale industrial operations that are "green" and produce little or no negative impacts on the surrounding community is a great idea for increasing environmental equity and revitalizing depressed urban communities.
