Driving America:
Turning Words into Action

Driving America was a seminal event for the transportation community, gathering some of the top experts in the world to discuss the future of mobility in America. As we now begin to focus on shorter-term, but nonetheless vitally important goals, such as preparing for the next reauthorization of federal highway programs in 2003 and ensuring that funds provided by the current highway law – the landmark, Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21) – are wisely invested, The Highway Users will work to ensure that the ideas of Driving America are widely disseminated and turned into action. Our plans include:

• Lobbying efforts to protect TEA21's funding guarantee will incorporate Driving America's findings on the environmental and safety benefits of reducing congestion and the mobility needs of U.S. businesses, working parents, and older drivers.

• A follow-up study to our bottleneck report, to be released in conjunction with Earth Day 2000, will highlight the tremendous progress we have made as a country at cleaning our air, but warn that – left unchecked – congestion threatens further progress.

• A training seminar for grassroots mobility advocates will include materials developed and presented by Driving America panelists.

• Lobbying for changes to environmental law affecting highway projects will include Driving America findings on air quality improvements attributable to improved vehicle and fuel technologies, cost-effective methods to reduce congestion and auto emissions simultaneously, and the constitutional and public policy rationale for giving the states greater authority over environmental programs affecting transportation improvements.

• Issue-of-the-Month press releases will highlight public policy concerns addressed by Driving America panelists, including traffic congestion, environmental improvements, economic development, and roadway safety improvements.