TEA-21 Role in Transportation and the Environment

TEA-21 acknowledged the role of comprehensive planning in reducing the negative effects of transportation on the environment.  The Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot program has encouraged innovative ideas and the formation of new partnerships to respond to the challenges inherent in making good decisions about the nation= s transportation system, our communities, and the environment.   Access to jobs, mitigation of traffic congestion, preservation of green space, and the need for a sense of community are just a few of the considerations that must be balanced as communities strive for strong, sustainable economic growth and a high quality of life.

Grants provided by TCSP support projects that strengthen linkages among transportation and community planning and system preservation practices.  TCSP places a strong emphasis on evaluation and learning. The authorizing TEA‑21 language explicitly recognizes that the complex set of relationships among transportation, land development, and the factors influencing community livability are not fully understood. Thus, research and individual grant evaluations to determine which transportation and community design practices are most successful are important elements of the TCSP program. The knowledge gained from TCSP will assist communities in developing and implementing their own transportation and community preservation practices.

The program recognizes the key role played by an effective planning process in successfully achieving these objectives. TCSP supports and enhances existing state and metropolitan planning processes by engaging a broad range of partners, including the general public and non‑traditional partners, such as the business community, public health agencies, and private developers. TCSP projects will also add value to planning processes, by introducing greater consideration of the land development and community impacts of various transportation investment alternatives.

Summary

The major benefits of rail transportation can be summarized as follows:  rail transportation, which in many areas has substantial capacity or can be expanded to handle additional passenger and freight traffic, has the potential to relieve highway and airway congestion while producing fewer harmful emissions, requiring little or no new land, and consuming less energy.  Identifying the specific benefits associated with a rail or rail-related project is important for public agencies as they develop transportation plans, make infrastructure investment decisions, and negotiate public-private partnerships.

Questions concerning rail benefits should be addressed to: Stephen M. Grimm, Senior Program Analyst 202/493-6412, Office of Policy and Program Development, FRA.