TRANSPORTATION

POSITION IN BRIEF

Promote energy-efficient and environmentally sound transportation systems that afford access to housing and jobs, relieve congestion and enhance the quality of life in communities of all sizes. Support predictable public funding that enables fiscally stable transportation systems to provide consistent levels of service.

BACKGROUND

Leagues have been acting on transportation since 1971 based on state and national environmental quality and urban policy positions. This position was written in 1981 and amended in 1983, 1985, and 1995 as an umbrella statement consistent with other League positions and providing language to support predictable funding.

For More Background

See section on Transportation under the LWVUS position on Meeting Basic Human Needs, IMPACT ON ISSUES 2002-2004. Under the position, LWVPA has supported:

• Opening the national highway trust fund to permit the transfer of funds for public transportation alternatives.
• Increase in state gasoline taxes.
• Reorganization of PennDOT.
• The end of overweight trucks.
• A moratorium on new highway building.
• A reemphasis on public transportation.
• Maintaining passenger train service in Pennsylvania.
• Meeting the needs of the handicapped for accessible transportation.
• Comprehensive planning of proposed turnpike construction, including requirements for environmental impact statements, and public participation.
• Automobile emissions inspection programs.
• A proposed constitutional amendment to allow motor fuel taxes to be used for public transit purposes.
• Reorganization of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) board.
• A recommendation to the U.S. Department of Transportation to reverse its historical priority of highway funding at the expense of public transit.

With the 1991 passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), some recognition was given by Congress to the importance of public transit to the economic well being of urban areas. In 1991, the General Assembly made dedicated funding available to PA transit systems, a long-time goal of the Area Coalition for Transportation (ACT) and LWVPA. Coalitions in the southeastern PA region and in Allegheny County continue to work to maintain dedicated funding.

Updated 9/1/04

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