| Issue 59 | November 10, 1995 |
ConnDOT Votes to Turn Back Clock
On Oct. 29, representatives from state transportation departments met under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to approve a platform for the reauthorization of federal transportation planning and assistance programs, pending in 1997. The current U.S. transportation law is the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), which represented a departure from early "highway" bills in that it provides for considerable flexibility in use of federal transportation funds, and provides a planning framework that promotes a balanced transportation system and public involvement in policy making. The AASHTO platform calls for the elimination of many of ISTEA's progressive elements. Among other provisions, the AASHTO ISTEA reauthorization platform calls for elimination of ISTEA's "transportation enhancements" and safety set-aside programs, public participation guidelines and requirements, publication of regional and state transportation improvement program and performance of major investment studies for large-scale projects. The latter two provisions presently help citizens and public interest advocates keep track of agency planning and provide input into how projects are conceived. The transportation enhancements program has provided funds for important cycling, pedestrian, traffic calming and transit-access projects nationwide. The safety set-aside has a strong potential to help states like NY, NJ and CT address their high pedestrian death and injury tolls.According to the Surface Transportation Policy Project, the New Jersey and New York DOTs -- to their credit -- were among only eight states that voted against the platform. Connecticut DOT voted for it. In Connecticut, the "enhancement" program, which ConnDOT now appears willing to jettison, has provided important benefits to the state. It has funded dozens of projects throughout the state, including many rail-trails and numerous downtown pedestrian environment improvements. In the AASHTO discussion, Nebraska DOT, which last year had circulated memos throughout AASHTO about the growing influence of an "anti-highway" conspiracy, predicted a "small war" over ISTEA reauthorization and said AASHTO needed to present a solid front as 1997 approaches.
