Create opportunity for low-capacity communities for infrastructure investments

A lack of adequate infrastructure can hinder reinvestment, posing particular challenges for disinvested communities whose limited financial capacity may impair their access to regional and federal transportation resources. Accessing these resources requires not only matching local funds, but also significant and costly predevelopment investments (e.g., feasibility studies, engineering designs) that can make projects infeasible for some low-capacity municipalities. In addition to the TRA program, disinvested areas need creative approaches to removing the financial barriers that prevent them from accessing some transportation funding programs. New funding would address the difficulty low-capacity communities have in entering and staying in the “pipeline” to build needed infrastructure projects. The recently started Invest in Cook program offered by Cook County offers one example of helping low-income communities fund needed infrastructure improvements.^{{{Invest in Cook, Cook County, https://www.cookcountyil.gov/investincook.}}} Through the program, communities can pay for planning and feasibility studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction associated with transportation improvements sponsored by local and regional governments and private partners.