Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog

White House Hails Kansas City’s Stimulus-Backed ‘Green Impact Zone’

Cities have been rather shortchanged by the stimulus law's road funding -- though transit money has been more amply directed to large urban areas -- but the Obama administration found a stimulus success story today in Kansas City.

kc_green_zone001_rc.jpgRep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) shows off a map of his home district's 'Green Impact Zone.' (Photo: Brookings)

The city's "Green Impact Zone," a 150-block area where residents are receiving help with home weatherization and construction has begun on a new bus rapid transit line, today hosted three senior presidential advisers: Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, White House urban affairs director Adolfo Carrion, and "green jobs" czar Van Jones.

The White House aides visited Kansas City to evaluate how its use of $200 million in stimulus aid to help revitalize the urban center could be replicated in other cities around the country.

In addition to energy-efficiency projects and the bus line, which would use biodiesel vehicles, the "Impact Zone" is aiming to provide job training in transit and park-building for the neighborhood's population of ex-parolees.

"We'll do this one neighborhood at a time," linking transportation, energy, and housing investments, Carrion told the local Fox TV station in an interview this morning.

The stop at Kansas City's "Impact Zone," spearheaded by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), will be followed by Obama administration visits to Chicago, Flagstaff, Los Angeles, and other cities as part of a broader urban tour.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

America’s Kids Deserve Better Than a Waymo Subscription

What do America's young people lose when they have to buy independence from a corporation that rents out driverless cars?

July 15, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Aren’t Falling Fast Enough

Pedestrian deaths dropped by 4 percent last year, but remain well above pre-pandemic figures.

July 15, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Are Dragging Their Feet

The Trump administration claims the Biden administration left them with a backlog — but they've actually been far slower at getting transportation money to states than their predecessors, a new analysis finds.

July 14, 2025

These U.S. Communities’ So-Called ‘Complete Streets’ Policies Don’t Even Deserve the Name

Any city can call itself a "Complete Streets" champion. But not all of them are walking the walk — and if they don't, a top organization says they'll no longer give them a platform on its esteemed "best of" ranking.

July 14, 2025

Communities Rally To Reclaim Streets From ICE Terror

"This is an attack on Los Angeles. This is an attack on California. On all of us."

July 11, 2025

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025
See all posts