Midwest Lagging On Correcting Traffic Congestion, Freight Bottlenecks, And Air Pollution Says Report
A new study finds that the Midwest–long the nation’s transportation hub–is falling behind in addressing traffic congestion, air pollution and other critical transportation problems.
The study by the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation is the first ever to examine Midwest spending on transit, rail projects, road repair and other improvements since the passage of ISTEA, the federal transportation bill, in 1991.
The nation’s second largest federal appropriation at over $300 billion, the transportation bill funds projects ranging from sidewalks and bike paths to mass transit and highways. Congress is currently preparing to consider a proposed six-year reauthorization of the legislation.
The seven-state study — the only report documenting impacts of transportation spending on any region in the country — reports that over $42 billion in federal dollars went to the Midwest under ISTEA. The money funded major projects in Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and other Midwest cities to improve bus service, create bike paths and repair roads.
But the report concludes that the region has not taken full advantage of opportunities to increase transit ridership and improve air quality.
Meanwhile, traffic congestion costs the Midwest more than $10 billion annually; freight-rail tieups in Chicago (the world’s third-largest intermodal port) slow down shipments nationally; and promising light-rail and high-speed rail projects remain stalled for lack of funds.
The foundation’s report, entitled “Keep It Moving,” highlights significant Midwest projects launched with federal transportation funds since 1991, but finds that other parts of the country are taking fuller advantage of key funding opportunities.
— Some states and metropolitan areas, notably California, Portland, OR, and the District of Columbia, have aggressively used federal resources to expand their transit systems. Midwest states have only lightly tapped this resource.
— Dozens of other cities have built light-rail systems or added rapid-bus services to give commuters alternatives to traffic-clogged roads. In the Midwest, only Cleveland and East St. Louis use light rail, while Minneapolis has a light-rail system under construction. Chicago, with one of the nation’s most extensive transit systems, is rebuilding two heavy rail lines.
— ISTEA provides funds for bike trails, pedestrian bridges, historic preservation and other so-called “Transportation Enhancements.” While all seven Midwest states have built such projects, they haven’t built as many as they could have; instead, they’ve taken advantage of a loophole to divert some of these funds into other programs.
— Transit ridership has increased nationally, a result of higher investment and expansion of service. While Midwest cities such as Lansing, MI and Lafayette, IN – and, more recently, Chicago – are part of this trend, many other Midwest cities have not shown comparable increases. The report highlights three innovations that have changed the transportation landscape in the Midwest and elsewhere in recent years:
— Transit corridors that provide fast and frequent bus or rail service to major population and employment centers such as downtowns, airports, universities and neighborhoods. Cleveland and Minneapolis are building such corridors.
— Transit-oriented development that focuses high-density residential, retail and business uses around a transit hub, creating attractions that are easy to get to and easy to get around. Chicago and its suburbs, such as Evanston, have been Midwest leaders in this kind of development.
— Pedestrian-sensitive design that provides attractive and safe access for pedestrians and bike-riders, moving away from the wide arterial roads lacking sidewalks that have discouraged walking in many suburban areas. Indianapolis, Grand Rapids and Dayton are all pursuing pedestrian-oriented projects.
“Keep It Moving” summarizes the experience of seven states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) in spending funds under ISTEA (the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act). The legislation, first passed in 1991 and reauthorized as TEA 21 in 1998, funds the nation’s highway system and also gives states and localities flexibility to spend some funds on transit projects, bike paths, pedestrian safety and combating sprawl.
The massive bill must be extended or reauthorized by September 30. The Bush administration has proposed a $250 billion, six-year package, about $75 billion less than proposals floating in Congress.
The report was compiled by the Joyce Foundation, with data supplied by the Surface Transportation Policy Project as well as information from transportation groups around the region.
Based in Chicago with assets of approximately $650 million, the Joyce Foundation funds efforts to improve the quality of life in the Great Lakes region. It supports groups working to improve air and water quality in the Great Lakes by reducing pollution generated by transportation; pollutants deposited from the air are among the biggest sources of new contamination of the Great Lakes.
Besides its Environment work, the foundation also makes grants in the areas of Education, Employment, Gun Violence Prevention, Money and Politics, and Culture.