Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Lauren Michele conducted a policy analysis of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which includes new and baseline funding for roads and bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, the electric grid, water systems, broadband. It contains an estimated $550 billion in new spending above baseline levels over five years. Portions of this funding will specifically go to electric vehicle charging, power and grid projects, bus electrification, and climate resilience. The IIJA will invest $7.5 billion to build out a national network of 500,000 EV chargers in the United States, and will help to achieve the Administration’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. The IIJA also created a new Joint Office of the US Department of Transportation and Department of Energy to oversee this program. Lauren Michele is supporting state agencies in the development of State EV Charging Plans, which will be submitted in the coming months to the DOE/DOT Joint Office for consideration of IIJA federal funding.
Left Coast Voter
Lauren Michele serves as Executive Director of Left Coast Voter, creating and managing its Political Action Committee (PAC) and social media site of progressive voters with over 225,000 followers (Facebook.com/LeftCoastVoter). Most recently, she helped flip the Senate by fundraising to support the Georgia Democratic Senate races. Left Coast Voter finds the progressive candidates and ballot measures that need help – whether it’s national, statewide or local – who represent values of justice, equality, human rights, and science. More at: www.LeftCoastVoter.com
Tulsi 2020 Presidential Campaign
Lauren Michele served as the Policy Director and Democratic National Committee (DNC) Debate Liaison for Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s 2020 Presidential Campaign. She managed a team of policy researchers; conducted preparations for media interviews and presidential debates; coordinated with campaign efforts involving strategic communications, coalition building, and digital outreach; led logistics/advance/security teams for the DNC Democratic Debates; and facilitated communication with major news networks on debate logistics and policy issue areas including CNN, NBC, New York Times, Washington Post, and others.
Transportation Coalition for Livable Communities
The Transportation Coalition for Livable Communities (comprised of the California Alliance for Jobs, California Transit Association, NRDC, EDF, CALCOG, the League of California Cities, State Association of Counties, and MPOs/COGs across California) explored ways to invest California’s Cap-and-Trade program revenue to address both the greenhouse gas reduction goals of AB 32 and critical transportation system maintenance and operation needs that builds on the framework of SB 375 and other GHG reduction strategies. As Policy Director of the Coalition, Lauren Michele applied technical research to the development of an innovative program concept for California – identifying key political players for collaboration, implementation concerns, and co-benefits from investments in integrated transportation and land use infrastructure and operations. Policy in Motion orchestrated this multi-year legislative and budget effort to increase transportation funding in California and created/managed a large statewide political coalition ranging from environmental to labor organizations and government agencies.
UrbanFootprint for GHG Analysis
A key to evaluating integrated infrastructure and land use proposals based on their greenhouse gas reduction potential is modeling. UrbanFootprint is a powerful and flexible land use and transportation planning, modeling, and data organization framework designed to facilitate more informed scenario-based planning and analysis by practitioners, public agencies, and other stakeholders. Many state, regional, and local agencies are all currently using and interested in further developing UrbanFootprint as a tool to assess GHG reduction as well as energy, water, public health, fiscal impacts, and conservation of agriculture and habitat benefits from investing in combinations of land use and transportation strategies. Policy in Motion was responsible for meeting organization and facilitation, inter-agency coordination, strategic communication, and outreach to technical advisors and stakeholders on the applications of UrbanFootprint.
Downtown Davis & University Innovation District Plan Grant Application
The City of Davis, in partnership with the County of Yolo and UC Davis, sponsored a $1,000,000 Strategic Growth Council Proposition 84 Planning Grant to fund both the design of an unprecedented, joint-planning collaboration process and preparation of the Downtown/University Innovation District Plan for the 118 acres connecting downtown Davis, the University central campus, and a severely economically disadvantaged community. Policy in Motion developed the grant application to reflect a strong understanding of policy relevance to SB 375 and AB 32 goals and objectives. Lauren Michele coordinated expertise and commitment from nearly two dozen collaborators, including multiple UC Davis research centers, partnering air and transit districts, and other local and regional agencies – as well as legislative and local leaders, community and non-governmental organizations, and business associations. The grant was awarded in 2014 by the Council.
Multi-State Legislative Comparison of Smart Growth Barriers
Analysis of the transportation planning process into an understandable framework to facilitate the integration of GHG planning effectively into the transportation planning process and provide the needed technical assistance to MPOs and state DOTs. Policy in Motion conducted research to identify the technical assistance and capacity building resources currently available to assist states, regional and local governments with GHG reduction planning, implementation, and measurement. The firm provided technical and policy research analysis, strategic communications/interviews, and deliverable development assistance.
Policy Analysis
Digesting local and regional implications on transportation and land use planning from the state and federal legislation and policy developments
“Lauren is a sharp analyst who has a good command of the big policy picture and a nuanced understanding of key technical and political issues. Her work for the Center for Clean Air Policy was extremely valuable in conducting our analysis of and providing recommendations on federal, state, MPO and local policy efforts for improving accessibility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
-Steve Winkelman, Director of Transportation & Adaptation Programs, Center for Clean Air Policy
Policy Development
Collaborating with various stakeholders and building strategic relationships to foster effective policy making at state and federal levels
“Lauren has an exceptional ability to connect with others as part of teams and networks, and willingly takes on a leadership role in those efforts.”
-Larry Greene, Air Pollution Control Officer/Executive Director, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Strategic Thinking
Guiding policy/decision makers at all levels of government in assessing the implications of policy or planning alternatives
“Lauren has a great understanding of land use and transportation planning and the strategies and policies that local and regional governments can pursue to improve mobility while improving their local economy and the environment. In a time when we are facing a multitude of challenges relating to energy security, climate change, and congestion, Lauren brings fresh thinking and an eye toward solutions.”
-Anthony Eggert