By Ron Thaniel
December 8, 2003

Two weeks after a November 21 meeting with U.S. Conference of Mayors leadership, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX) introduced the "Metropolitan Congestion Relief Act." The "Metropolitan Congestion Relief Act" suballocates federal transportation commitments to cities. The meeting included Conference Vice President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic, Advisory Board Chair Long Beach Mayor Beverly O-Neill, Transportation and Communications Committee Chair Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, Chairman of the Amtrak Mayor's Advisory Council, on the of allocation of federal transportation resources to cities.

First, the measure directs that Surface Transportation Funds (STP) provided to each of the states, either through the STP or indirectly through the unprogrammed share of the Minimum Guarantee program, be directed to local areas. The allocations must follow existing law using the fair share distribution to urbanized and non-urbanized areas.

Second, the legislation specifically addresses the needs of local areas with the most air quality and congestion problems. It does so by directing States to allocate Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program (CMAQ funds to local areas that are in non-attainment or maintenance of applicable national ambient air quality standards.

Third, the measure specifically directs states to work more directly with local decision-makers, particularly in the larger metropolitan areas, in deciding on investments in the National Highway System.

Fourth, there are also two new initiatives in the legislation that address congestion. One is a new $2 billion annual formula program aimed at the Nation's most congested metropolitan markets, as analyzed by the Texas Transportation Institute. This program will target resources to areas of the nation with clear congestion needs. The other program will provide modest resources of $500 million annually to local governments to support incident management programs.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson said in her floor speech introducing the bill that the "legislation invests more in our local decision-makers, those who now lead our nation's very important metropolitan economies."

She also noted that the legislation "further strengthens the partnership set forth in the 1991 ISTEA law that began devolving resources and decision-making to the nation's larger metropolitan areas."

"This legislation continues to place more responsibility where it belongs, with local community leaders and metropolitan planning organizations. These are the entities most challenged by pressing transportation needs, be it traffic congestion, air quality degradation or the rising demands of global competition," said Johnson.

To view the "Metropolitan Congestion Relief Act" please visit the U.S. Conference of Mayors website at usmayors.org.