1. Presented by: Erin Gengo and Zach Nostdal ISTEA: The Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991

2. Before ISTEA? National Highway System funds could be used only on roads classified as a principal arterial Transportation planning = highway building!

3. To improve public transportation necessary “to achieve national goals for improved air quality, energy conservation, international competitiveness, and mobility for elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged persons in urban and rural areas of the country” (Bullard, Smart Growth) ISTEA: The Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991

4. What did ISTEA do? Funds for highways could be used for many modes of transport Focused on maximizing existing transportation systems Gave rise to a new form of governance: Metropolitan Planning Organizations! Designated a “National Highway System”

5. Bipartisan Political Support for ISTEA President George Bush Senior Amtrak President Tom Downs, Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY), and Harry Reid (D-NV); Reps Bud Shuster, (R-PA), and John Paul Hammerschmidt, (R-AR). President Bill Clinton upholds ISTEA as a priority for his administration

6. Examples of ISTEA projects Connecting Reagan National Airport to Washington DC Metro subway/light rail

7. The Big Dig, before and after

8. ISTEA high-speed corridors

9. Planning implications Most funding still goes to highways. Allows for transit-oriented development. Intentional investments in transit instead of only in highways Regional autonomy in planning

10. ISTEA’s political implications Using some highway dollars for transit has led to reduced bipartisanship around future transit bills. Tea Party conservatives and libertarians want to move transportation funding back to the states.

11. ISTEA and beyond, by the numbers ISTEA authorized $155 billion over 6 years, $120 billion of which went to highways and highway repair. (1991) TEA-21 authorized $217 billion over 6 years, $175 billion of which went to highways.(1998) SAFETEA-LU authorized $45 billion for 2004, then $244 billion for 2005-2009. $189.5 billion of which went to highways (2005)

12. Federal funding Woes Federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon and has not been changed since 1993. Gas tax has historically been the primary method to fund transportation bills

13. Interstate 35W Bridge Collapse, 2007

14. Transit bills today There has been no transportation bill in the US since 2009, when SAFETEA-LU expired. Last Friday, the 9th consecutive temporary highway funding measure was passed. Impediment to long-term transportation planning.

15. Lessons Learned Giving regional authorities more authority to plan local projects is good. The construction of the national highway system was important, and now providing funding to maintain built infrastructure is important.