Who's going to get what in the new ISTEA?

Transportation policy promises to be the subject of heated debate in 1997 when Congress takes up the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) reauthorization.

The landmark 1991 ISTEA legislation changed the face of transportation policy, strategy and funding.

ISTEA moved transportation policy away from a focus on the interstate highway system to a more comprehensive approach that includes all types of transportation. Reauthorization will cause a thorough re-evaluation of the legislation, especially the "appropriate" role of the federal government as opposed to states and local governments.

Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mortimer Downey stresses the importance of moving quickly on the reenactment to prevent a lapse in transportation programs. He said, however, that "despite the need for quick action, we must consider carefully the legislation which will take our highway, transit and safety programs into the new millennium." A sound transportation system is vital to the national economy and to the United States' role in the global marketplace, he said.

The U.S. Senate and House have begun hearings to examine reauthorization. Much of the debate centers around funding; whether motor fuel taxes should go to transportation or be diverted to deficit reduction, who decides how funds are spent and the amount necessary to meet transportation needs.

The formulas by which highway funds are distributed to the states are increasingly coming under fire. Legislative proposals introduced in 1996 seek to return taxation authority and program responsibility to the states with the goal of giving states more flexibility in spending. Until the questions about the level of federal funding are settled, program reauthorization cannot be resolved.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) conducted a series of regional focus groups to elicit feedback about ISTEA. One question raised was whether ISTEA struck the right balance between funding designated for certain purposes, also known as set-asides, and spending flexibility. DOT plans to use the information gathered at these forums to develop specific proposals for reauthorization and a plan to be submitted to Congress this winter.

Interest groups and government agencies are busy polishing position papers and planning legislative strategies. The American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials advocates relief from set-aside requirements for programs such as congestion mitigation and air quality. The Surface Transportation Policy Project supports a balanced approach to ISTEA that includes transportation equity and programs that meet the needs of all citizens. Federico Pena, DOT secretary, sees a federal role in transportation to ensure a seamless national system and to meet the challenges of future transportation policy: safety, continued growth of traffic and travel, environmental concerns, and demographic changes.

Wisconsin Senator Brian Rude testified before the House Surface Transportation Subcommittee in support of the enhancement programs. He reminded members of the committee that "transportation is about more than roads." But according to highway advocates, and an impressive number of western state officials, ISTEA should be replaced with HOTEA (Highway Only Transportation Efficiency Act.)