The Importance of TEA-21 Reauthorization to Preservation

Transportation enhancements help create alternatives to driving, relieving congested highways and snarled traffic.

Historic preservation's stake in transportation policy is as big today as it was in 1960s, when the building of the Interstate Highway System created such horrendous losses that governments began to protect historic buildings and landscapes. Preservation's gains then--as well as those from the 1990s, when ISTEA and TEA-21 were approved--are by no means guaranteed as Congress reauthorizes federal transportation law in 2003.

Since 1991, reformers like the National Trust have shaped transportation law so that it better protects community character. It now encourages joint land use and transportation planning, gives local governments more influence over how transportation money is spent, emphasizes making existing roads more effective, provides more funds for public transit, supports early and continuous public participation in road building decisions, and allows states greater flexibility in allocating their federal transportation dollars.

Yet several factors now threaten these gains. First, the increases in transportation funding during the 1990s appear to have leveled off. While Congress will restore a portion of the $9 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2003, state transportation agencies may restructure their budgets in ways that reduce money for preservation.

Another danger comes from those transportation interests who want major changes in the laws that protect the environment and historic resources from road projects. They argue that studies and reviews take too long and are a major cause of delays. While these interests claim they only want to "streamline" protections, not eviscerate them, their proposals will actually greatly lessen protections for historic resources in the face of highway projects.

A good reauthorization bill can help preservation in many ways. It can continue transportation enhancements and increase the emphasis on historic places. It can increase the effectiveness of the existing federal-state Historic Bridge program, so that it stems the frightening loss of these resources. It can strengthen the federal-state program to encourage flexible standards for road design, often called "Context Sensitive Design," so that state agencies produce road projects that protect the historic character of communities.

Advocacy on behalf of these worthy transportation and preservation goals must be conducted at both federal and state levels. Holding on to previous gains and pressing ahead to fulfill the progressive transportation promises that exist in laws--but so far have not been enthusiastically adopted in practice--will only occur with strong participation at all levels of government.