<<  <  >  >>

Congress passed the 1998 transportation

percent per year since the 1920s, which was

bill, the Transportation Equity Act for the

well before any federal involvement in high-

ways.3 4Meanwhile, EPA's own data show that

21st Century (TEA-21), with the expectation

that it would significantly boost funding for

the environmental damage caused by this

highways. But EPA is mounting a major effort

driving is steadily declining as cleaner cars

to divert gas taxes and other highway user fees

and fuels replace older ones. The report erro-

away from highways to mass transit, trans-

neously claims that "vehicle-caused pollution

portation demand management, sprawl pre-

doubles periodically in most metropolitan

vention, and other dubious programs. The

areas." In fact it is declining in most areas.

Transportation Partners and Smart Growth

On the basis of that premise, however, the

Network play a major role in that effort.

report calls for EPA's "involvement in the

Traditionally, the federal government has

early stages of transportation plan develop-

provided funds for transportation but let

ment." Within each EPA region, says the

cities and states decide how to spend those

report, EPA will "work with MPOs

funds. The Intermodal Surface Transpor-

[Metropolitan Planning Organizations] and

tation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)

other stakeholders to promote demand man-

expanded on that tradition by allowing cities

agement [i.e., reduced automobile use] and

EPA's own data

and states to spend more money earned from

other innovative alternatives" to highways.

show that the

federal highway user fees on transit or other

The report also calls for EPA to aggressively

nonhighway construction--but the ultimate

oppose "auto dependency and urban sprawl."

environmental

decision was still left up to the states.

TEA-21 provisions to streamline environ-

damage caused by

EPA plans to overturn that tradition, both

mental clearance--intended by Congress to

driving is steadily

by demanding that cities with air quality prob-

reduce the power of environmental regula-

lems spend transportation dollars according

tors to block road projects--are seen by EPA

declining as

to its whims and by encouraging local EPA

as "an opportunity to change the transporta-

cleaner cars and

officials and partners to intervene in local

tion planning process by building on our

transportation planning. Some sense of EPA's

involvement in plan development to ensure

fuels replace

goals can be obtained from an internal EPA

that demand management strategies with

older ones.

TEA-21 Workgroup Report that was approved

broad multimedia benefits are addressed at

by the agency's Office of Policy last September.

key points in the planning process."

The report, titled "New Approaches to

("Multimedia" is EPA jargon referring to air,

Integrate Environmental and Transportation

water, and land.) In other words, a "stream

-

Policy through TEA-21 Implementation,"

lined process" will have EPA and its allies

describes EPA's current role in local trans-

killing highway projects before anyone

portation decisions as "marginal" and pro-

knows they are being considered, thus

poses new interventions to give pro-environ-

"reducing the need for stakeholder involve-

ment officials, environmental activists, and

ment at later stages."

regulators--many of whom are EPA part-

The report applauds a number of local

ners--more power in transportation plan-

plans that meet EPA's approval:

ning at the local and regional levels. The "new

·In northwest Indiana, several highway

approach" will be to kill projects that increase

highway capacity early on rather than to

projects were eliminated "before project

allow municipal officials the right of having

selection," meaning before they could

the final say.

be fairly compared with EPA-preferred

The report states, "Current strategies are

alternatives.

·In Philadelphia, environmental indica-

leading to very rapid increases in driving and

sprawl with escalating environmental dam-

tors were established that bias the

age."3 3 In fact, the number of miles

analysis against roads.

· In San Francisco, a Regional Alliance for

Americans drive has increased at about 2 to 3

11