Newsletters
| Transit & Infrastructure
Newsletters
| Economic & Community Development, Housing, Transit & Infrastructure
- Newsletters
- | Economic & Community Development, Housing, Transit & Infrastructure
Accelerator for America was born in part from a bold local transit and infrastructure initiative, Los Angeles’ Measure M in 2016, which showed what’s possible when communities invest in themselves and build for the future. That spirit of local leadership continues to guide everything we do.
Since our founding, AFA has worked alongside mayors and community leaders to turn local, state, and federal funding opportunities into real, measurable progress. Through our i3 initiative and U.S. DOT’s Thriving Communities Program, we’ve helped cities move forward projects that expand economic mobility, strengthen neighborhoods, and ensure that infrastructure investment reaches the people and places who need it most.
This spring, we concluded our work in the Local Infrastructure Hub, a multi‑year effort that supported thousands of local governments as they navigated the historic federal funding made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). From small towns to major metros, and no matter the federal funding landscape, communities across the country are now better equipped to deliver transformative infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and increase economic opportunity.
Our 501(c)(4) sister organization Accelerator for America Action has helped local communities achieve almost $100 billion in new transit and transportation funding through local ballot measures, and this year, we are working in many more places to advance their local dreams of a more connected and prosperous community.
As we celebrate Infrastructure Week 2026, I’m proud of the mayors, practitioners, and partners who continue to show what local leadership can achieve. Accelerator for America will keep championing the ideas and investments that help every community thrive.
Together, we’re building the foundation for a stronger, more connected and competitive America.
Mary Ellen Wiederwohl
President & CEO
Accelerator for America Advisory Council Mayors have joined other local leaders from across the country to uplift the ground-level impacts of federal infrastructure as part of the national Building a Stronger America video campaign.
The campaign, led by United for Infrastructure (a project of Accelerator for America Action), launched at a critical time as Congress considers the next surface transportation reauthorization bill and the future of long-term federal infrastructure investment. IIJA is set to expire in September 2026.
The campaign brings together local leaders, businesses, labor, and community organizations to share real stories of how infrastructure improvements — from safer roads and bridges to clean water, modern transit, broadband access, and resilient energy systems — are delivering results for people across the country.
Transportation innovation is changing the way residents move through their communities every day, and policy and regulation can struggle to keep pace. Our colleagues at CityFi are launching a new working group focused on Local Use Vehicles (LUVs), human- and motor-powered vehicles that fill the gap between e-bikes and traditional cars. LUVs can be used for short, everyday trips and as an alternative for private citizens and e-commerce companies alike. But how will city halls coordinate policy across jurisdictions that ensure all roadway users remain safe and moving efficiently?
The working group is bringing together local leaders, industry, and regulators to explore how LUVs can improve urban mobility, reduce congestion, and contribute to a multi-modal transportation system.
Infrastructure Week, May 18-22, is a nationwide week of advocacy where government, private sector, and community stakeholders push for robust and sustained federal infrastructure funding and highlights the impact of infrastructure investment on our communities, our economy, and our national security.
Today, May 19, United for Infrastructure is hosting its signature Infrastructure Week event in Washington, D.C. where speakers and panelists will address the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, power grid capacity, data centers, water infrastructure, and more.
Featured speakers include Administrator Sean McMaster of the Federal Highway Administration; Congressman Sam Graves, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Congressman Rick Larsen, Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet; Congressman David Rouzer, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit; Tim Gatz, Secretary, Oklahoma Department of Transportation; Hon. J.D. Clark, County Judge of Wise County, Texas and President of the National Association of Counties; and Mayor Eileen Higgins of Miami, Fla.
