NACTO Creates COVID-19 Resource for Communities In Need

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has made several resources available on their website, most notably the COVID-19: Transportation Response Center. 

In addition to that, in early April NACTO’s team also released a comprehensive spreadsheet titled COVID-19 Related Resources for Communities — a compilation of publicly available information on resources for all kinds of communities impacted by COVID-19.

Nicole Payne is NACTO’s Program Manager and also supports Cities for Cycling and the Better Bike Share Partnership. When asked what she thought about the spreadsheet and how she’s seen it be helpful to different communities, she wrote:

“As transportation practitioners, the impact of our work is omnipresent. When undertaking community-driven planning and community engagement, people in our field often serve as the first point of contact for the general public’s interaction with local government. During these interactions, it’s critical to be prepared to provide information related to community needs, even if it’s peripheral to your daily work. 

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on communities’ physical, social, and economic well being—especially for those that are historically underserved — it is now more important than ever to serve as a reliable source of resources and information. The document is a compilation of resources developed for and by individuals, community groups, non-profit organizations and local governments. Our role is to use our position to share this information with the people who need it most.”

Here’s what you can expect to see:

Tab 1: Resources

So far, there are 11 inclusive categories, like Financial/Employment Resources, Region-Specific Resources, Undocumented Communities and more. You can find housing and food support, and even more health information to keep stay safe during the pandemic. 

Tab 2: Infographic – Government Support for Creative Professionals 

Creative professionals are among those struggling financially during the pandemic. This snapshot guide shares the options available to you and anyone else who has lost full or part-time creative work. 

Tab 3: Infographic – Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus (New York only)

Whether you need more information about the federal CARES Act or you want to learn more about eligibility for unemployment benefits, this infographic can tell you what you need to know. 

The COVID-19 Related Resources for Communities spreadsheet is updated regularly, and NACTO is crowdsourcing new resources to add so anyone is welcome to update this robust list. 

Please contact Nicole at nicole@nacto.org if you’d like to add a suggestion. 

Check out NACTO’s new resource and share with your loved ones and social networks! Now more than ever, it’s important to work together to keep each other safe and healthy as COVID-19 evolves.

Additionally, for anyone interested in finding bike share stations near and around you, check out the North American Bike Share Association’s COVID-19 Shared Micromobility Tracker.

The Better Bike Share Partnership is a JPB Foundation-funded collaboration between the City of Philadelphia, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) and the PeopleForBikes Foundation to build equitable and replicable bike share systems. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up for our weekly newsletter. Story tip? Write farrah@peopleforbikes.org