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Most of the EPA

$625,000 to the Surface Transportation

gram, which encourages cities to adopt

Policy Project before 1999. But documents

smart-growth policies and plans.

grants went to

· The Local Government Commission is

obtained from EPA in a freedom of informa-

organizations

tion request indicate that EPA paid $775,000

a nonprofit association of "forward-

thinking public officials."17 EPA fund-

whose sole pur-

to the project. A more recent grant to the proj-

ect, $230,000 awarded on April 9, 1999, is not

ing goes to the commission's "livable

pose is to lobby

included in either of those figures.

communities" program to promote

federal, state, or

A few of the grants went for what might be

smart growth in local transportation

considered legitimate work to solve conges-

planning.

local govern-

· Despite its name, Public Technology,

tion and air pollution problems. For example,

ments or to pro-

the Association of Commuter Transportation

Inc., is a nonprofit group affiliated with

vide assistance to

promotes alternatives to commuting in single-

the National League of Cities and the

National Association of Counties.18 EPA

occupancy vehicles. The organization focuses

other groups

on "transportation demand management,"

funding is used to promote smart-

doing such lobby-

meaning that it works with large businesses to

growth planning at the local level.

ing.

promote employee vanpooling and transit rid-

ership.1 5 The grant to the Environmental

Three other recipients are strictly non-

profit lobby groups:

Defense Fund was aimed at market-based

transportation reforms in California and New

· The Bicycle Federation of America

York. The organization employs Michael

Replogle, who popularized the term "smart

helps cyclists work on local transporta-

growth" when he worked for the state of

tion planning to promote bicycle and

pedestrian facilities.1 9Often this means

Maryland. Replogle supports market tools

such as congestion pricing of roads but also

reducing road capacities even though

endorses smart-growth plans such as those

many roads are already at capacity and

being adopted in Maryland and Oregon.

bicycling and walking typically make

Most of the EPA grants went to organiza-

up a tiny percentage of all commuting.

· Renew America's main purpose is to

tions whose sole purpose is to lobby federal,

state, or local governments or to provide

present awards to groups for their sus-

tainability projects.20 EPA funding sup-

assistance to other groups doing such lobby-

ing. Four of the groups claim to be associa-

ports about eight awards per year to

tions of state or local governments or govern-

groups working on sustainable trans-

ment officials.

portation--meaning nonautomotive

transportation. One 1998 award, for

· The Center for Clean Air Policy is an

example, lauded Metro, the regional

planning agency for Portland, Oregon,

association formed by state governors to

for "developing innovative street design

promote innovative approaches to pol-

policies intended to reduce auto

lution. EPA funding supports the orga-

usage."

nization's "Collaboration to Improve

· The Surface Transportation Policy Project

Transportation, Land Use, and Air

Quality," meaning smart growth.

was created in 1989 to promote diversions

· The International Council for Local

of federal highway user fees to nonhighway

transportation. The group was largely

Government Initiatives describes itself

responsible for passage of the Intermodal

as "an association of local governments

Surface Transportation Efficiency Act

dedicated to the prevention and solu-

(ISTEA) in 1991 that increased EPA's

tion of local, regional, and global envi-

authority over transportation planning.

ronmental problems through local

action."1 6 EPA funding is directed to its

According to an EPA memo supporting

this grant, "STPP has nurtured a network

"Cities for Climate Protection" pro-

5