Livability Initiative

A Few Words from Victor Mendez, Federal Highway Administrator

Welcome to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Livable Communities webpage. This webpage is intended to provide information on the FHWA Livability Initiative as well as provide updates on the HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

I am honored to be a part of the most exciting time in the history of American highways. I will work to continue improving the relationship between infrastructure and community needs, specifically to improve a community's 'livability,' to enhance the environmental sensitivity of roads and bridges and to help states explore multi-modal transportation options. There is much work ahead of us, but I look forward to it. Our mission is to bring you the highway system you deserve, and I welcome the challenge.

Victor Mendez, Federal Highway Administrator

What is Livability?

• Livability is about tying the quality and location of transportation facilities to broader opportunities such as access to good jobs, affordable housing, quality schools, and safe streets. This includes addressing safety and capacity issues on all roads through better planning and design, maximizing and expanding new technologies such as ITS and the use of quiet pavements, using Travel Demand Management approaches to system planning and operations, etc.