The Federal Surface Transportation Program: The Next Four Years

Four transportation policy experts offer Planetizen readers a forward look at the federal surface transportation program.

1 minute read

December 6, 2004, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Transportation policy often passes under the radar of politicalanalysts and media commentators, overshadowed as it is by such majorconcerns as the fight against terrorism, the economy, the future ofsocial security, and health care. This posture of benign neglectshould not continue. Mobility is too important to the economicvitality of the nation to remain invisible in the policy dialogue.Raising the profile of transportation is especially timely at thisjuncture, as the President prepares to shape the policy agenda for hisnext administration and Congress returns to the unfinished task ofreauthorizing the federal surface transportation program.

To this end, four transportation policy experts -- Kenneth Orski, Stephen Lockwood, Alan Pisarski and Robert Poole -- offer Planetizen readers a forward look at the federal surface transportation program and weigh the transportation choices facing the Administration and the Congress over the next four years.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Monday, December 6, 2004 in Planetizen

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A crowd of people boarding Boston's green line in an underground subway station.

Boston has spent millions making the Green Line more accessible — and there’s no end in sight

While the city has invested millions into expanding and adding platforms to the Green Line to make it more accessible, new train cars set to arrive next year will be too tall for disabled passengers to board without raising the current platforms.

1 hour ago - Boston Globe

Railroad tracks in Idaho passing a home by a river.

Idaho may see an 18% drop in federal surface transit funding — the largest estimated cut in the US

Transit systems in rural communities are much more reliant on federal funding to provide their services.

2 hours ago - Grist

A Florida family with their belongings in a wagon walks past a destroyed storm after a hurricane.

How ‘post-disaster gentrification’ alters neighborhoods after natural calamities

After hurricanes, fires or other calamities, the original residents of a community are often replaced by younger, wealthier residents.

3 hours ago - Inside Climate News