Debate Begins
On Next Federal Highway Bill

By Matthew Chase, Deputy Executive Director, NADO

When Congress passed the landmark Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in June 1998, it marked the beginning of a new era in rural transportation. The $218 billion bill provided an infusion of desperately needed resources to help address deteriorating roads and bridges across rural America, while also expanding the transit network needed to connect rural residents to jobs and family. It also provided more funding equity for each state and guaranteed for the first time that federal gas tax revenue would be spent on transportation improvements.

Most importantly, TEA-21 was built on the inclusive planning philosophy of the historic 1991 federal highway legislation by outlining a more prominent role for rural local officials in the statewide planning process, which is best described as the “gateway for accessing federal transportation funds.” While urban officials are still granted a higher status level in the planning and programming dialogue, rural officials are now at least guaranteed a seat at the table.

With the current act set to expire in October 2003, the Bush administration and Congress are already preparing for the next reauthorization period. Federal transportation officials are working in internal groups to develop the president’s plan, which will be released in February 2003, while congressional committees are pursuing an aggressive hearing schedule.

As part of the TEA-21 reauthorization, lawmakers and the administration are expected to retain the existing set of core programs, streamline the project delivery process and promote state and local flexibility. In addition, transportation leaders are focused on assuring stability within the highway trust fund, securing additional resources for highway and transit programs, and renewing the federal commitment to safety.

For small metropolitan and rural America, a top priority will be to further strengthen the participation of rural officials in the statewide planning and investment process. Local officials will be raising awareness of the road safety problem in rural areas, where, according to a recent General Accounting Office (GAO) report, nearly 60 percent of the nation’s highway fatalities occur.

Rural officials will be watching new initiatives to help local communities address growing congestion problems, reduce the administrative paperwork for transportation enhancement programs, and adjust to the new EPA air quality standards for ozone and particulate matters, which will be a painful reality for over 300 counties.

For More Information: Visit the US Department of Transportation website at www.dot.gov; the NADO Regional Transportation Online Center at www.nado.org/rtoc.

Additional information is also available at the new Federal Highway Administration website on rural planning at www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/rural.