[CPEO-BIF] Redeveloping Brownfields with Federal Transportation Funds

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Original message from Torma.Tim@epamail.epa.gov 

March 2001 

Redeveloping Brownfields with Federal Transportation Funds: 

New Report Highlights Links Between Brownfields and Transportation

In March 2001, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and
the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) released a report
titled Redeveloping Brownfields with Federal Transportation Funds. The report
is intended to assist developers, transportation planners, economic development
professionals, policy analysts, and others interested in achieving better
transportation, environmental, and community outcomes. 

States and metropolitan areas across the country face a seemingly insolvable
planning challenge. The number of miles we drive per capita is rising annually,
and traffic congestion in cities and surrounding suburbs is worsening. However,
road capacity added to relieve congestion is rapidly consumed. These trends
have created a broad search for transportation solutions, including a renewed
effort to better coordinate land use and transportation. 

Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial
facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived
environmental contamination. Important links exist between transportation and
brownfields. Because of their valuable central locations, the revitalization of
brownfields can: 
$ reduce trip lengths; 
$ make more efficient use of existing infrastructure; 
$ support transit systems; and 
$ make walking and biking viable mode choices. 

Transportation investments can work to support the redevelopment of such
properties. This guide explains how to access funds from flexible sources, and
suggests ways that federal transportation funding can be used to restore
brownfields to productive uses. 

The report reviews case studies (Portland, Oregon; Lawrence, Massachusetts;
Salt Lake City, Utah; and Buffalo, NewYork) that coupled transportation
improvements with brownfield clean-up and redevelopment. Appendices of the
report detail other sources of funding for brownfield projects, tools for
overcoming liability problems, as well as additional sources for relevant
information on transportation and brownfields. 

Integrating transportation options with reusing brownfields is particularly
smart land use. First, existing and former transportation facilities B such as
railroad yards B are frequently brownfield sites themselves. Second,
transportation is critical to the redevelopment process because good
accessibility is a virtual prerequisite for developers seeking opportunities
for new projects or business looking for a new location. Finally, many
transportation goals B improved access, reduced trip times and lengths,
efficient use of the transportation system, maintenance of existing
infrastructure, and even air emissions reductions B can be accomplished through
brownfield redevelopment. 

Copies of the report may be obtained by calling EPA at (202) 260-7154 or AMPO
at (202) 457-0710, ext. 16. An electronic version of the report is available at
the web site of the Smart Growth Network: www.smartgrowth.org.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Torma
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (1808)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

email - torma.tim@epa.gov
ph - 202-260-5180
fax - 202-260-0174
--------------------------------------------------------------
Development, Community & Environment Division: http://www.epa.gov/dced
A partner in the Smart Growth Network: http://www.smartgrowth.org


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