Exploring the Implications of 'Mode-Neutral' Transportation Funding

"The beginning of 2008 has seen a flurry of debate -- at least in wonkish circles -- over federal transportation spending. In January, the bi-partisan Surface Transportation Commission released a report two years in the making, 'Transportation for Tomorrow,' which was promptly badmouthed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters for a gas tax hike proposal and partially redacted by the Bush administration to remove a section advocating for public transportation. Just last week the White House proposed paying federal highway obligations by 'borrowing' from a fund set aside for transit. With the federal highway bill up for re-authorization next year, huge sums of money are on the line, not to mention the direction of US transportation policy.

"One of the new phrases getting tossed around in these discussions is 'mode-neutral' funding, which entails allocating money based on pre-determined criteria and cost-benefit analysis, instead of earmarks for roads or transit."

The article goes on to trace where the term "mode-neutral" comes from, and explains how applying the concept in practice might affect different types of transportation projects.