Congressman Earl Blumenauer Takes On Sprawl

Jessica Tirado interviews Congressman Earl Blumenauer about his groundbreaking work promoting livable cities.

1 minute read

October 20, 2003, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who has made significant contributions in civic partnership, environment, transportation and livability says, "A truly livable community is one where its citizens care enough to take action; a place where people work to make sidewalks plentiful, traffic slower, streets safer and an environment that encourages people to use transit." Since his election to Congress, Blumenauer has visited over 100 communities accross the nation, working to make these neighborhoods more livable in an effort to enhance their environment. He has also built strong partnerships throughout the executive branch and has shared the "Portland Story" with numerous congressional colleagues, introducing them to key players in livable community efforts in Portland. Earl Blumenauer describes a Livable Community as one that provides a safe, healthy environment; where the use of land and resources is sustainable, where they have a government that makes wise investments; and where the ability to make choices on key issues such as housing, employment and transportation is available to all. There is a growing general awareness that public transportation enhances livability as opposed to the corrosive effect of the highway based infrastructure we have developed over the last fifty years.

Thanks to Andy Kunz

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 in NewUrbanism.org

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

Wood-frame multifamily housing units under construction on a street in low-density area or suburb.

More Apartments Are Being Built in Less-Dense Areas

Rising housing costs in urban cores and a demand for rental housing is driving more multifamily development to exurbs and small metros.

June 24 - Smart Cities Dive

People at beach on sunny day doing clean-up of plastic bottles and other trash.

Plastic Bag Bans Actually Worked

U.S. coastal areas with plastic bag bans or fees saw significant reductions in plastic bag pollution — but plastic waste as a whole is growing.

June 24 - Fast Company

Close-up on PG&E "SmartMeter" electricity meter on side of building.

Improving Indoor Air Quality, One Block at a Time

A movement to switch to electric appliances at the neighborhood scale is taking off in California.

June 24 - Inside Climate News