A Disturbing Trend In Transportation Spending

In this special Union Tribune column, Neal R. Pierce of the Washington Post Writers Group warns of an apparent reversal of federal and state commitment to transit over new road construction. In 1991, the federal government shifted its focus from new road construction with the Intermodel Surface Transportation Act, allowing states to use large amounts of federal aid for alternatives, such as road repair and transit programs. There have been a multitude of ballot measures to curb sprawl across the nation and an increase in transit ridership, but even with the evidence that American's want alternatives, the share of federal highway aid going to new roads is rising once again, Pierce states.