Rural Transportation Policy Group Position Paper
- Download the Complete Policy Paper
- Key Policy Recommendations
- Rural Transportation Policy Group Members
Connecting rural America with improved transportation systems is a major challenge for the nation as a whole. With the federal transportation reauthorization bill pending, the nation has an opportunity to modernize, strengthen, and integrate the transportation systems that connect rural people and places to each other and urban commercial centers, while protecting the landscapes, habitat, and livelihoods of rural communities. Strategic investments in rural transportation, including broadband technology, will support the nation’s recovery and long-term growth at a historic time. These investments are critical for getting people to job and training opportunities, commercial centers, schools, and vital services. For all American communities to have the opportunity to thrive, we must ensure the full integration and participation of rural Americans into a more vibrant national and global economy. (Read the entire paper.)
- Rural and Native American voices must be included in regional and statewide transportation planning processes.
- National, state, local, and tribal governments must work collaboratively to design, build, maintain, and coordinate transportation infrastructure, including broadband technologies.
- Rural residents need and deserve available public transportation, including regional and intermodal systems, and need those systems to be accessible to all. Accessibility should, at a minimum, meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA).
- Transportation infrastructure investments should promote the economic, environmental, social health, and well-being of rural communities and landscapes.
- Flexible funding and public-private coordination are needed to support the unique transportation needs of diverse rural communities.
Rural Transportation Policy Group
Redwood Coast Rural Action
Kathleen E. Moxon, Director
Terry Supahan, Supahan & Associates
1385 8th St., Box M
Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 633-8625
RCRAKathy@gmail.com
www.redwoodcoastruralaction.org
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL )
Billy Altom, Executive Director
Kathy Hatch, Director of Training and Technical Assistance
2001 Pershing Circle
Suite 200
North Little Rock, AR 72114
(501) 753-3400
bwaltom@sbcglobal.net, kathatch@charter.net
www.april-rural.org
YouthBuild USA
Kim Phinney, Director, Rural and Tribal Development
223 Huntley Road
Westford, VT 05494
(802) 879-2974
kphinney@youthbuild.org
www.youthbuild.org
Good News Mountaineer Garage
Barbara Bayes, Executive Director
221 1/2 Hale Street
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 344-8445
bbayes@goodnewsmountaineergarage.com
www.goodnewsmountaineergarage.com
Sustainable Northwest
Maia Enzer, Policy Director
813 SW Alder Street, Suite 500
Portland, OR 97205-3121
menzer@sustainablenorthwest.org
www.sustainablenorthwest.org
National Consumer Law Center
10th Floor
77 Summer Street
Boston, MA
