Changing Direction, a study by the Surface

Changing Direction, a study by the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STTP), presents both good and bad news about the direction of federal transportation spending in the 1990s. On the positive side, the study says funding increased for repair of existing roads and for reduction of environmental impacts. Money also went to give people a wider set of transportation choices. From 1990 to 1999, spending on public transportation grew from about $3 billion to almost $6 billion, and transit ridership has increased by more than 15 percent since 1996, STTP reports. But all is not well. In the last two years, many public officials have reverted to addressing congestion by building new and wider roads. The portion of federal funds going to these efforts grew by 21 percent, while the funding to alternative modes of transportation fell by 19 percent. The study also notes that many state and regional transportation officials have been slow to take advantage of the funding available for innovative strategies made possible by the Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The study is available at www.transact.org. u