Objectives

To develop a diverse Statewide Alliance of organizations, individuals, and constituencies committed to engaging in an advocacy agenda primarily devoted to changing the state’s transportation priorities, planning, decision-making processes, and investment strategies.

To formulate an agenda for change which is “owned” by Alliance partners and which prompts activity and action toward its fulfillment.

To build an educated and engaged cadre of advocates with an emphasis on capitalizing on the unique strengths, skills, networks, and primary agenda focus of each participating organization, individual, or constituency group.

Organizing Principles

Through training, technical assistance, and resources, the Alliance will be comprised of educated, engaged organizations and citizens advocating collaboratively for transportation change. To ensure that the efforts of the Alliance will be characterized by the active participation, leadership, and self-advocacy of those most directly affected, the Alliance will aggressively outreach, train, and support persons with disabilities, seniors, and low-income citizens.

Because the involuntary social, economic, educational, political, and participatory isolation of people represents a significant loss of social capital in a democracy, the Alliance will work to build networks of productive relationships between and among diverse participants and to increase the social capital, networks, and investment in each of our Alliance communities.

As an Alliance comprised of educated, engaged organizations, individuals, and self-advocates who share a common goal in changing in transportation decision-making, investment, and policies that do not yield an integrated transportation system that serves all Texans, the agenda for action will be determined by participants. To the extent that these targeted changes often directly benefit neighborhoods, communities, the environment, public health and safety, as well as enhance quality of life, the agenda will provide a focus for activities around which diverse constituencies can collaborate democratically.