**FHWA Reauthorization Support**

Scan of External SAFETEA-LU Environmental Communications -- Week 23

This week's scan of 24 stakeholder websites focused on human environment
organizations and public policy think tanks. Three of the websites
reviewed had updated content related to SAFETEA-LU since we visited them
in previous scans.

After the list of websites is a series of links to articles found
through our online searches this week. In an accompanying document is
the full text of three articles that are not publicly available online.

**Publicly Available Content**

-   "Environmental Expert Warns That National Environmental Policy Act
    (NEPA) Task Force Draft Recommendations Could Increase Litigation,"
    press release, Environmental Law Institute, February 7, 2006

-   "Bush Proposal Takes Toll on Construction." McGraw-Hill Construction
    News

-   "Programs Getting Money," The Tribune Democrat.

**Paid Content (in accompanying document)**

-   "City Controller Chick Audit finds Millions in Transportation Funds
    Sitting Unused," US State News, February 2, 2006

-   "Traffic-Easing Funds Idling." Los Angeles Daily News, February 3,
    2006

**Recently Updated Websites**

**­­­**

**Bikes Belong Coalition**

<http://bikesbelong.org/site/page.cfm?PageID=302>

> The group's recently posted 2006 Legislative Agenda includes two items
> related to the implementation of SAFETEA-LU. First, the group will
> focus on ensuring that the \$4.5 billion in new federal funding for
> bicycling and walking is spent effectively. The organization will also
> continue to provide financial and logistical leadership for the Safe
> Routes to School National Partnership.

**The Brookings Institute**

<http://www.brook.edu/metro/speeches/20060123_trb.pdf>

A speech by Bruce Katz, co-authored by Robert Puentes at the TRB
Conference, argued that the profound demographic, economic, and cultural
changes the nation is experiencing are presenting the nation with a
complex and conflicting set of transportation challenges. They describe
SAFETEA-LU as "recent acrimonious and unproductive "debate" in
Washington about the new surface transportation law is emblematic of
what is wrong with the current system. The sad fact is that after years
of wrangling, and 18 months of delay, what we're left with is a national
transportation policy with no accountability, no overall intent, and no
chance to meet broader goals of economic growth and personal mobility I
mentioned."

**North Central Texas Council of Governments**

<http://www.nctcog.org/trans/legislative/us_109th.asp>

> The North Central Texas Council of Governments has written a summary
> of key provisions included in SAFETEA-LU. The summary focuses on
> programs relevant to metropolitan planning organizations such as
> NCTCOG. The 58-page summary includes descriptions of new and existing
> programs and NCTCOG's role in implementation.

**Publicly Available Articles**

**Environmental Expert Warns That NEPA Task Force Draft Recommendations
Could Increase Litigation**

Environmental Law Institute

February 7, 2005

<http://www2.eli.org/pressdetail.cfm?ID=141>

> The Environmental Law Institute issued a press release stating that it
> had submitted comments to the House Resources Committee Task Force on
> Improving/Updating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
> According to ELI, the comments warn the Task Force that its draft
> recommendations could have the unintended consequences of increasing
> NEPA litigation and cutting the public out of important federal
> decision-making.

**Bush Proposal Takes Toll on Construction**

McGraw-Hill Construction News (online)

February 13, 2006

<http://enr.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0271-24803_ITM>

> The article discusses proposed funding for construction-related
> programs in President Bush's 2007 budget. It notes that both roads and
> transit receive adequate funding due to guarantees in SAFETEA-LU.
> "There's certainly good news on the highway front," says David Bauer,
> American Road & Transportation Builders Association senior vice
> president.

**Programs Getting Money**

The Tribune Democrat (Johnstown, PA)

February 4, 2006

<http://www.tribune-democrat.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_035232505.html>

> The article describes transportation enhancement projects in central
> Pennsylvania that have recently received the backing of local
> officials. Final say on who gets the money will be decided by the
> state Transportation Commission in August and the Federal Highway
> Administration in September.