Road projects are traditionally seen as pork-barrel spending, untouchable and highly desirable goodies for Members of Congress. However, Representative Rogan's amendment shows that some road projects are undesirable and should be killed outright. The Rogan amendment may set a precedent, increasing the level of scrutiny over road projects in Congress. The amendment was included in the final conference report. The transportation funding bill reflects some of the unpleasant realities of TEA-21.
Public transit continues to be funded at a fraction of highway spending.
Amtrak struggles to survive as federal funding support withers. Ill-conceived highway construction projects move forward with little oversight or accountability. And dangerous legislative riders threaten the advances made over the past few decades in cleaning our air and providing sustainable transportation options. If you are not currently receiving these updates and would like to be added to our email or fax list, please contact David Hirsch . Friends of the Earth is a national environmental advocacy organization with affiliates in 58 countries.