By Ed Somers
September 8, 2003

In a major victory, the House of Representatives voted 327-90 for an amendment to protect the transportation enhancements program. The amendment was sponsored by Representatives Thomas Petri (WI) and John Olver (MA) and strongly supported by the Conference of Mayors and other local government organizations.

The Petri/Olver amendment removed a provision from the FY 2004 Department of Transportation funding bill that would have discontinued the mandatory 10 percent set-aside from the Surface Transportation Program (STP) for the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program, and instead would have allowed states to move this funding into other areas such as highways.

As stated in a supporting letter sent by the Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities and National Association of Counties, "the Transportation Enhancements program has been very important to local governments by allowing them to undertake alternatives beyond the traditional highway construction projects. Over 17,000 local transportation projects have been initiated as part of the TE program, and the results have been significant, both in terms of increased mobility and the economic development generated by the construction of these facilities. TE projects have contributed to decreased congestion and improvements in air quality in our nation's cities and counties."