Transportation Bill Rewrite Critical to Protecting Wildlife Habitats, Nature; Groups Issue Call For Common-Sense Policies

12/3/2002

From: Patricia White of Defenders of Wildlife, 202-682-9400

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- With the federal transportation program up for its twice-a-decade reauthorization next year, a coalition of national organizations is urging Congress to adopt policies that can both reduce long-term costs and prevent further damage to America's natural heritage.

The organizations' suggestions are based on new thinking among researchers and engineers about how to avoid the negative effects of road-building practices on wildlife, biodiversity and water quality. The groups include Defenders of Wildlife, Smart Growth America, National Wildlife Federation, Trust for Public Land, The Humane Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Enacted by Congress in 1998, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is scheduled to be reauthorized during 2003. The legislation is critically important because it allocates hundreds Of billions of dollars for roads, bridges and transit to states and metropolitan regions. Also, it will include measures which will strongly influence the pace and pattern of land development and therefore have wide-ranging implications for wildlife habitats and ecosystems.

The coalition's recommendations are based on some common-sense principles:

-- Improve coordination between wildlife conservation and transportation decisions; -- Prevent harmful impacts and mitigating existing problems; -- Prioritize the revitalization of existing communities ahead of the development of natural areas; -- Support current transportation programs that help protect wildlife and natural habitats.

"State and federal agencies spend considerable time and capital both protecting natural areas and building transportation infrastructure, both of which are strongly supported by the American people," said Patricia A. White, transportation associate for Defenders of Wildlife. "With better coordination and mitigation tools, we can avoid conflicts between these goals to deliver better outcomes.

"Transportation planning that integrates existing conservation efforts will save money, protect resources and expedite project delivery," she added.

"This is not just about road kill," said Don Chen, executive director of Smart Growth America. "It's about promoting economic development and mobility while also protecting our nation's most ecologically sensitive areas."

FACT SHEET: OPPORTUNITIES FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN TEA-3

For the last decade, ISTEA and TEA-21 have revolutionized U.S. transportation policy in attempts to balance mobility, economic development, public safety and environmental protection. Looking to reauthorization, we face tighter budgets and greater needs, but can ill afford to sacrifice any of these objectives. The American people expect an efficient, intermodal transportation network but overwhelmingly support continued protection for our natural heritage.

We, the undersigned contend that the 108th Congress can not only uphold these traditions in TEA-3, but can maximize transportation funds and extend unprecedented benefits to wildlife conservation. Opportunities for sound transportation policy include the following initiatives:

INCORPORATE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

State and federal agencies spend considerable time and capital both protecting natural areas and building transportation infrastructure. While these sometimes conflict, they need not be mutually exclusive. Indeed, when considered simultaneously they can enhance one another. Transportation planning which integrates existing conservation efforts will save money, protect resources and expedite project delivery.

-- Add a planning factor for wildlife conservation which allows transportation plans to identify and avoid impacts to natural areas in the earliest stages of planning. -- Provide support for state transportation agencies to acquire and utilize state and regional biodiversity plans. -- Provide funding for scenario planning technology to improve communities' ability to assess future transportation and land development options and their impacts on natural areas.

IMPROVE IMPACT PREVENTION AND MITIGATION

Transportation agencies spend valuable time and incur great expense in mitigating adverse effects. Greater efficiency and use of limited public dollars can be realized by reducing impacts and improving mitigation.

-- Provide funding for detection and removal of invasive species, as well as native species procurement. -- Encourage states to identify mitigation opportunities in long range plans. -- Develop a revolving fund for advance acquisition of mitigation lands. -- Authorize a pilot state grant program to study and implement measures for habitat connectivity restoration.

COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION WITH COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

-- Provide local governments with incentives to encourage economic development and additional housing in existing communities near public transportation centers, as well as brownfields and other distressed neighborhoods. -- Provide funding to help transportation agencies reduce their impacts on water quality, water supply and watersheds.

CONTINUE PROGRAMS FOR MOBILITY AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Building upon the success of ISTEA and TEA-21, many existing programs can be utilized to extend benefits to wildlife conservation.

-- A "Fix-it-First" principle dedicates limited funding to existing facilities and reduces pressure on remaining wildlife habitat. -- The Transportation Enhancements (TE) Program supports projects which restore wildlife habitat connectivity across transportation corridors. -- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) projects can improve mobility and reduce emissions which threaten sensitive ecosystems. -- The Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP) allows communities to develop while protecting natural areas. -- A fully funded Cooperative Environmental Research Program (CERP) provides necessary research and disseminates information on best practices in transportation and wildlife conservation.