Toolbox

Just Transportation Alliances offers the following tools to assist you with your organization and advocacy.

Surfact Transporation Policy Project Toolbox
(new window will open for links)

Using Data and Information

Localizing the numbers

MPO Recertification

TEA-21: Influencing the Money

Is Transit a Good Investment?

New Roads Not the Only Answer

Effective Programs

Generating Media for your issue

Other useful tools

Effective Programs

Paratransit Guide

City Rights, City Routes -- Intro to Chapter 11 (Conservation Law Foundation, 1998, Word Documentss)
We thank CLF for their great work in developing this book. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is a nonprofit, public interest, member-supported environmental advocacy organization. A much nicer copy of this book can be purchased by going to their website.

• Intro / Chapter 1
• Chapter 2: The Impact of Traffic
• Chapter 3: The Need for Justice in Transportation
• Chapter 4: Traffic Calming
• Chapter 5: Streets for Walking/Biking
• Chapter 6: Building Quality Public Transportation
• Chapter 7: Kissing Diesel Good Bye
• Chapter 8: Building Stronger Communities
• Chapter 9: Conclusion
• Chapter 10: Appendix
• Chapter 11: Resources
  

Good practice examples from the Surface Trasportation Policy Project
(A new window will open)

MPO Re-Certification

Example: Cover Letter to Federal Highway Administration for Certification Review, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (Word Document)

Example: Comments on Certification Review, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (Word Document)

STPP MPO Recertification Tools (new window will open)

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing doesn’t lower property values
Affordable rental housing in the suburbs has little or no effect on the property values of surrounding neighborhoods, according to a report published by the Family Housing Fund, a nonprofit advocacy group based in Minneapolis. The study examined 12 neighborhoods in the Twin Cities where a tax-credit rental housing development for families was located in a dense district of owner-occupied residences. Researchers compared the sales price per square foot, the percentages of sales to asking price, and time on the market, both before and after the rental properties were constructed, and between neighborhoods with and without rental properties. They found no significant or long-lasting differences among the neighborhoods studied.

Development strategies that work
Successful cities share similar economic development strategies, according to "Strategies for Success: Reinventing Cities for the 21st Century," a new HUD report. The study highlights eight promising strategies based on case studies in 10 US cities: downtown redevelopment, housing and neighborhood revitalization, creating destinations, upgrading old economy enterprises, capitalizing on clusters - concentrations of a specific industry - and collaborations, workforce development, attracting high-tech investment, and creating new economy spinoffs.

Preparing for TEA-3

Looking Forward to TEA-3

Mobility for the 21st Century

Laws and Legislation
Texas Government Fact Book (PDF, 1.5 MB)
Texas Trends (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Federal Legislation On-Line
Texas Legislature On-Line
Find Your Elected Official
Texas Transportatoin Code