U.S. Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairs, recently introduced the Mobility, Opportunity and Vocation Enabling (MOVE) Act, which would have the Department of Transportation create performance measures for transportation planning.

The measures would assess: cumulative increase in residents’ connection to jobs; accessibility for disadvantaged populations; and the variety of modes of transportation available to users, such as public transportation, roads and highways, and bike and pedestrian pathways. State departments of transportation would be tasked with the responsibility of setting goals under each measure and reporting the progress to the public.

“America is falling behind when it comes to our transportation needs," Grijalva and Ellison said in a joint statement. "This doesn’t just mean driving on crumbling roads – it means missed opportunities to provide transportation equity that can help reduce poverty, unemployment and the financial burdens of people who work hard for a living. By providing greater access to jobs and more affordable, accessible transportation options, we can help communities thrive. We must invest in our transportation needs and spend the dollars wisely. The MOVE Act would help increase connections to jobs, provide more options for getting around, and help ensure that all Americans have access to the benefits of our transportation infrastructure.”

The MOVE Act has support from multiple organizations including Transportation for America, PolicyLink and the Center for Popular Democracy.