Three programs provide the environmental backbone for ISTEA...
These three programs help improve air quality, minimize transportation's negative impact on the environment, and provide people with transportation choices; together they help to significantly improve the environment. About $1 billion/year of highway funds are currently being spent on transit projects (compared to a transit direct level of federal funding at about $4.4 billion).
In the Senate, the greatest threat is STEP 21, authored by Sens. Warner and Graham, and co-sponsored by 6 of the 18 Environmental & Public Works (EPW) Committee members. STEP 21 eliminates CMAQ and Interstate Maintenance as separate categories, making them merely eligible activities for funding. CMAQ is about 5% of highway funding under ISTEA. It is the most innovative, the most tied to clean air, and the most under local control of all the highway programs. About 1 billion dollars per year of all highway funding that has been "flexed" to transit comes from this program 50% of flexibility from 5% of the program.
STARS 2000, another Senate bill authored by Sen. Baucus, has 3 EPW co-sponsors. STARS keeps CMAQ as a separate program, but shrinks it to $380 million/year, and limits the regions which can use it [webmaster note: Baucus' home state, Montana, gets no air quality money under his bill]. Both STEP and STARS are supported by state DOT's which have historically been among the most resistant to innovative thinking, and concern for clean air, social equity or land use. In 1991, the ISTEA majority included Sen. Baucus, who helped bring along others in his region.
In the House, Chairman Shuster has proposed that 50 percent of CMAQ, Interstate Maintenance and Enhancement funds would no longer be dedicated for air quality improvement, maintenance or enhancements, but could be transferred to any highway project in the state, at DOT's discretion. In the case of CMAQ, this would cut out the discretion of local authorities who currently rely on these funds to battle air pollution.
Current law already offers considerable flexibility by allowing all CMAQ funds to be transferred to other purposes once a state has met its obligations to achieve and maintain health standards under the Clean Air Act. We believe that until a state successfully implements a plan to provide healthful air quality, CMAQ funds should be dedicated to meeting that important health goal. We also believe that metropolitan areas struggling with air problems should continue to control these funds.
The proposals would substantially cut the dedicated funding for Interstate maintenance at a time when federal and state studies show that we need to spend much to maintain the federal government's multibillion dollar investment in the Interstate system. To the extent these proposals are meant to provide greater flexibility to the states, we believe that current law already provides ample flexibility to use Interstate Maintenance Program funds. ISTEA already allows up to 20 percent of a state's Interstate Maintenance money to be transferred to other uses unconditionally. It allows even more funds to be transferred, provided both the state and the Secretary of Transportation certify that the state's Interstate roadways are being "adequately maintained." This common sense policy ensures that we have adequate funds to take care of our nation's existing investments, before we use these funds for other purposes. This is a policy that should be reinforced, not weakened.
The Transportation Enhancements program provides federal funding for activities which are not yet included in standard transportation projects such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, scenic beautification and preservation of historic and cultural resources. Prior to 1991, these activities were largely conducted in reaction to negative impacts of specific transportation projects. However, ISTEA ushered in a new multi-modal approach to transportation planning by allowing 1.7% of federal transportation facilities. Since 1991 states and communities have been able to develop small scale projects which connect the existing transportation network and provide environmental, community and economic benefits to citizens in their neighborhoods, while at the same time reducing congestion in city streets. STEP 21 maintains this as a separate program.
The greater danger is in the House. The small percentage of funds dedicated for these projects should be maintained. To make these projects "optional" by allowing half of the funds to be transferred to other purposes returns us to the pre-ISTEA days when most states simply refused to spend the resources needed to implement these community-supported projects. Dedicated funding ensures that these funds will be available and further institutionalizes the inclusion of non-motorized, non-polluting transportation projects into the transportation system.
c/o Citizen Action, 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite 403, Washington, DC 20036, tel: (202)-775-1580, fax: (202)-296-4054, e-mail: jblum@citizenaction.org
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