Federal policies and investments can shape local sustainability outcomes. The Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PSC) between HUD, DOT, and EPA was formed in 2009 to help coordinate investments and align policies according to six livability principles, including providing more transportation choices and promoting equitable, affordable housing. Performance measures can focus attention, promote accountability, and informed decision making to ensure outcomes are consistent with the livability principles and continued progress is made in communities receiving PSC assistance.

1. 1 Performance Measures for Sustainable Community Approaches Matthew Dalbey, US EPA Office of Sustainable Communities

2. 2 Federalpolicies And investments shape local sustainability outcomes Buena Park, CA © Ron Chapple/Corbis 2

5. Mission: To help American families in all communities — rural, suburban and urban — gain better access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs.

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8. Are outcomes consistent with the Livability Principles?

9. Principle #1 –More Transportation Choices Develop more convenient reliable, safe and economical transportation alternatives Key strategies… Broad goals… Indicators of progress… Lower HH Transportation Costs Expand transit services Transit trips per capita Improve transit performance Improved Public Health % of commute trips by bicycle or foot Increase % of new homes built near transit Reduced Oil Dependence VMT per capita Increase % of new homes built near employment/activity centers Improved Air Quality Unique to this Principle Reduced GHG Emissions Shared by another principle

10. PSC and Performance Measures Focus attention Promote accountability Promote informed decision making Transform discourse Make funding contingent upon continued progress Rural and urban difference Pilot the use of performance measures in a subset of the communities receiving assistance