| Issue 109 | December 20, 1996 |
Northeast States Respond to STEP-21
ISTEA reauthorization issues occupied about 90% of last week's Coalition of Northeastern Governor's (CONEG) meeting in Vermont. Northeastern and a few other states, alarmed by the early organizing of states in the South and West to change ISTEA's formula for apportionment of federal transportation funds among the states, have now formed their own ISTEA coalition. Although the group is as yet unnamed, administrations of 14 states and Puerto Rico, including all those from New England, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Illinois and Washington State have endorsed a set of principles that urge reauthorization of ISTEA without significant change. The Governors wrote to exiting Transportation Secretary Pena this week, urging US DOT to reject calls for ISTEA's overhaul. Their statement of principles emphasizes transportation's unparalleled return on government investment and the economic importance of urban, transit-dependent states. It urges retention of federal funding for states based on need, including transportation system usage and extent. Staff from NY Governor Pataki's office and NY State DOT have been highly active in organizing the coalition.
