Landrieu: Fed government often works against smart growth, but it’s changing

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says the federal government is one of the biggest hindrances to smart growth. Landrieu, D-New Orleans, says that’s “because of the stovepipe way we fund larger projects, with the lack of interconnection and coordination at the federal level.” Speaking at today’s Smart Growth Summit, hosted by the Center for Planning Excellence, she says the feds might give state Department of Transportation and Development Secretary William Ankner several million dollars for a highway, but won’t allow him to spend a small portion of that money to put in a bike path, for example. However, she said many of President Barack Obama’s appointments are receptive to progressive planning ideas, including HUD secretary Shaun Donovan, an “absolute disciple” of smart growth, Louisiana native Lisa Jackson at the EPA, and transportation secretary Ray LaHood. “That’s what my job is this year, to try and pull that federal team together,” Landrieu says. Landrieu says she has helped CPEX get funding for the last two years, and has a $1 million request for the center pending.—David Jacobs