How To Push A Livable Streets Project Forward — Even in the Era of Federal Clawbacks

Key Takeaways

• AmericaFWD links engineers, financiers, organizers with local governments
• Alignment among mayor, community, private sector speeds project delivery
• $800B infrastructure funds obligated; many projects still stalled
• Former USDOT official leads effort to revive rescinded projects
• Accelerator Lab offers tools to fast‑track multimodal street upgrades

Pulse Analysis

The United States faces a paradox: billions of dollars have been earmarked for transportation upgrades, yet many livable‑streets projects remain on the drawing board, hampered by the recent rollback of federal grants and fragmented local capacity. This gap is most acute in smaller jurisdictions where technical expertise, financing know‑how, and stakeholder coordination are scarce. AmericaFWD emerged as a direct response, positioning itself as a bridge between federal intent and on‑the‑ground execution, ensuring that the ambitious goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law do not stall in bureaucratic limbo.

Christopher Coes leverages his tenure as the third‑ranking official at USDOT and his work on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to craft a pragmatic playbook. Central to the model is the principle that project momentum hinges on alignment—mayors must have backing from local philanthropy, community groups, and state DOTs. The Project Delivery Accelerator Lab supplies templates, financing strategies, and public‑engagement kits, while the Advisory Network connects municipalities with seasoned engineers and finance specialists. This turnkey approach reduces the time from grant award to ground‑breaking by months, if not years.

The ripple effects extend beyond individual streets. Faster project delivery cuts traffic fatalities, lowers emissions, and unlocks economic opportunities in historically marginalized neighborhoods. For the broader transportation sector, AmericaFWD’s framework offers a replicable blueprint that could be scaled nationally, reinforcing the climate‑resilient, equity‑focused agenda championed by the current administration. As more communities enroll, the initiative promises to transform stalled funding into measurable improvements in safety, accessibility, and regional competitiveness.