Reconnecting Communities Across America
The Reconnecting Communities Institute (RCI) is a center for learning that helps communities reclaim economic opportunity and mobility through reconnection projects. Learn more about RCI.
Helping Communities Lead the Way
Transportation infrastructure should connect people to jobs, health care, education, and other essential services. Yet, many communities lack access to these resources because of transportation infrastructure decisions of the past.
Through trainings and one-on-one assistance, RCI helps communities reclaim economic opportunity and mobility by helping them envision, plan, and implement community reconnection projects.
A Center for Learning
RCI supports communities working to envision, plan, and implement reconnection projects, including grantees of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program. RCI helps its participants through group and peer-based learning activities, tailored one-on-one assistance, tool and resource creation, and more. Learn more about RCI.
US DOT's Reconnecting Communities Initiatives
Between 2022 and 2023, US DOT launched two grant programs to fund projects that connect communities, improve access to daily needs, and promote economic development. The Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program provided grant funding for projects that remove, retrofit, or mitigate transportation barriers. The Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program provided grant funding for projects that strengthen community connectivity by improving walkability, safety, and affordable transportation access.
RCI was established alongside these programs to provide free technical assistance to RCP and NAE grantees, and other communities working on reconnection projects.
Reconnection Project Spotlight
In the 1960s, the construction of Buffalo’s Kensington Expressway left residents in the East Side community with low access to jobs, grocery stores, and banks. In 2023, the New York Department of Transportation was awarded a $55.6 million RCP grant for a new cap and tunnel that will reconnect local roads and provide a continuous link of green space for pedestrians and bicycles. It is estimated that the project will increase household wealth in the community by $76.71 million.