Cities win funding, coaching to fast-forward mobility network build-out
Fighting climate change by increasing transportation options among stated goals
Media Release | Contact: Sara Studdard, 901-356-2090, sara@citythread.org
City Thread has selected a diverse cohort of cities to participate in the Accelerated Mobility Playbook technical assistance program designed to help fast-forward the build-out of their mobility networks.
Communities chosen include Bainbridge Island, WA; Syracuse, NY; Gulfport, MS; Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Tucson, AZ; Santa Rosa, CA; Petaluma, CA; and Indianapolis, IN.
Each city will receive $50,000 in Accelerated Mobility Playbook (AMP) technical assistance from the nonprofit consultancy led by national mobility experts Zoe Kircos, Sara Studdard, and Kyle Wagenschutz. This assistance includes a community-specific mobility audit of the city’s current state of practice and an action plan for improved implementation and partnership.
“There’s overwhelming public support for building networks of bike lanes, trails, parks, sidewalks, and open space, but cities get stuck when the build-out gets bogged down by politics and budget negotiations,” Wagenschutz said. “ We’re excited to work with a great mix of cities that have stepped up to lead the way to a healthier, better connected and sustainable world.”
Transportation is the single biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Like the fields of energy and housing, transportation affects everybody. Cities across the U.S.see connected mobility networks and more transportation choices for residents to be a necessary strategy for fighting the climate crisis.
“Despite transportation’s central role in climate solutions, most cities won’t see their mobility network plans implemented for another generation (that’s right, 50 – 80 years). We can’t afford to move at the current pace.” Studdard said. “City Thread’s approach helps cities move swiftly to reorganize city streets and give everyone more options to get where they need to go that don’t contribute to congestion, pollution, and extreme weather.”
Building on the success of The Final Mile, which helped five cities build 335 miles of bike lanes in just two years, City Thread’s Accelerated Mobility Playbook (AMP) provides a roadmap for speeding project delivery, completing network-focused implementation plans, and conducting authentic community engagement.
Strengthening the relationship between elected leaders, municipal staff, grassroots, and philanthropic partners is key to any community’s success. With her experience in mediation, coalition building, partnership management, grantmaking, and fund development, Kircos helps build and guide teams throughout the process.
“Without clear and consistent communication, people feel disconnected from public planning processes, even when they support the intended outcomes,” Kircos said. “We help community, city and elected leaders identify a shared goal, and then keep everyone moving toward it while ensuring that folks stay informed, engaged and committed. The trust and goodwill these communities build is essential to getting things done.”
Each of the selected cities will receive a comprehensive assessment that positions them to accelerate their local mobility goals. By aligning public support, political will, and local ambition around a unified vision, cities can take decades off their planned implementation schedule.
Studdard said she and her colleagues look forward to celebrating each city’s commitment to remaking their streets, and all of the milestones along the way. The public is invited to cheer the cities on.
Subscribe to our newsletter to follow along as each city develops its vision for mobility and follows the playbook to fast forward it to completion.
The Accelerated Mobility Playbook (AMP) is funded by Wend Collective and SRAM. To see a program FAQ, visit citythread.org/faq. For more information, visit citythread.org/ampgrantprogram.
Praise for the City Thread approach:
According to the Urban Institute, this approach “offers a unique model of philanthropic investment designed to shape municipal policy. In the five funded cities, it helped inform growing interest and support for cycling while aiding municipal leaders in shaping their goals.”
National groups like PeopleForBikes are highlighting the accomplishments of these cities, noting that this playbook can “help any city leader better understand and benchmark the outcomes of their own work.”
City Thread is a national, non-profit organization working to connect people and communities. Since 2010, the City Thread team has led successful projects in communities and neighborhoods across the U.S. City Thread combines 50 years of experience in urban planning, marketing, communications, equitable public participation, fundraising, grantmaking, community engagement, strategic planning, and campaign management. City Thread brings a fresh perspective and skillset rooted in community engagement, project delivery, and political campaigns. The team includes a White House Champion of Change (2015, Obama Administration), a trained mediator, facilitator and communication coach, and an award-winning creative and community campaign organizer.
SRAM is a manufacturer of innovative bicycle components founded in Chicago in 1987. SRAM has focused on innovative product development in all cycling disciplines. SRAM has also acquired some of cycling’s most exciting brands, including RockShox, Zipp, Quarq, TIME, and most recently adding Hammerhead and Velocio.
