Where Scenic America Stands

Scenic America's Position on Transportation Enhancements

Adopted by Scenic America's Board of Directors in part: June 20, 1995
Reaffirmed in Current Form: April 21, 2002

Scenic America supports the reauthorization of the Transportation Enhancements program as authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to provide continued funding for projects that protect and enhance scenic beauty and community character.  Scenic America opposes any efforts to eliminate or restrict the use of transportation enhancements funding for the purchase and removal of outdoor advertising.

The Issue

Since 1991, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and its successor, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) have helped hundreds of communities through the transportation enhancements program to undertake projects that improve their quality of life and environment.  Communities have used transportation enhancement funds to protect scenic viewsheds, purchase and remove outdoor advertising, construct interpretative centers, revitalize mainstreets, restore rail and bus terminals, and build or improve recreation trails.

However, opponents want to suspend the program and use the funds exclusively for highway construction.  Others see trail projects and other efforts as frills.  The billboard industry wants to cut off the funding for outdoor advertising control.  As the time for TEA-21 reauthorization approaches, Scenic America is an active partner in the Surface Transportation Policy Project and other groups dedicated to protecting and improving the transportation enhancements national program.

Scenic America Supports:

• Reauthorization of the transportation enhancements program, with the greatest possible flexibility for programs and projects that enhance each community's unique resources.

Scenic America Opposes:

• Any efforts to reduce or eliminate funding for the purchase and removal of outdoor advertising from transportation enhancements programs.

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