Laserfiche WebLink
f <br />#: <br />-m. <br />Iv I <br />ISTEA: Linking Con <br />Conservation And Tr; <br />IN’TERMODAL SURFACE <br />Transportarion Efficiency Act (ISTEA) <br />introduced revolurionan* changes in the <br />nation s huge transportation trust fund. <br />Ol most interest to consenarionists. a <br />new enhancements program makes at <br />least S3^ billion available over a 6-vear <br />m <br />period for historic sites, open space, bike <br />paths, rail trails, scenic easements, and <br />other communi^* assets. Over 2,000 <br />enhancement projects, valued at almost a <br />billion dollars, have been funded so far. <br />Some outstanding ones include: <br />• CaiUbmia. Purchase of the 270-acre <br />Rank Island to protect the San Joaquin <br />River Parkway scenic viewshed was <br />assisted by S3.-1 million in ISTEA <br />funds. The island, rich in biodiversitv. <br />is a recognised resource of stateuide <br />importance. The state s Environmental <br />Enhancement and .Mitigation Program <br />pro\Hdcd an additional S-IOO.OOO. <br />• Woodbridge. New Jersey* Renewal of <br />a deteriorated downtown train station <br />has been combined with measures to <br />revitalize nearby businesses and an his­ <br />toric park. Parking fees will be placed <br />in a fund for station area maintenance <br />to be managed by local merchants. <br />ISTEA is providing S463.000 of the <br />S965.000 project. <br />• Minneapolis* Minnesota- Cedar Lake <br />Park, the first new ci^ park in 70 <br />years, consists of 100 acres of lake- <br />shore, natural areas, and bike and com­ <br />muting trails only a mile and a half <br />from downtown. The funding partner ­ <br />ship includes state, metro, and pr^ ate <br />funds, and 5500,000 from ISTEA <br />lor trails. <br />Despite progress. ISTEAs imple­ <br />mentation has glitches. Much of the <br />available money is still unspent. <br />.Approved projects move slowly. Changes <br />being discussed include: <br />• Fostering private partnerships- <br />Bureaucratic rules constrain use of <br />private funds for the 209b local match. <br />ISTEA officials are looking at wavs to^ % <br />make the program more receptive to <br />vrin-win private matches. <br />• Increasing use of 1STE.A funds to buy <br />consert'acion lands. .According to the <br />best estimates, only 171 enhancement <br />projects have involved land purchases. <br />Some states welcome using ISTEA <br />funds for acquisition, but others hav'e <br />set up roadblocks. <br />• Ensuring greater consistency. <br />Enhancement projects are shaped bv <br />50 different state transportation plan ­ <br />ning sv'stems. While diversity provides <br />lle.xibili^*. it is also a source of <br />confusion. <br />A nonprofit coalition is monitoring <br />the ISTEA enhancements program to <br />ensure chat dollars are spent, as Congress <br />intended, to change fundamental plan ­ <br />ning processes. Says David Burw eil. <br />president of Rails-to-Trails Conservanev', <br />a prime mover in shaping ISTEA "Me <br />are most interested in enhancement <br />projects that reinforce the social and eco­ <br />nomic fabric of communities, reduce pol­ <br />lution, increase transponacion options, <br />and foster sustainable development." O <br />greenspaces bond is being crafted for 1995. <br />Passage of the cin-'s Rx-up bond comes <br />first, says Charles Jordan. Ponland s park <br />director. The public really wants this," <br />Douglas Counnv Colorado. In <br />Denver s rapidly grouing environs, aid <br />cent sales tax increase would venerate <br />about S2.2 million annually lor open space, <br />trails, and active parks. The citizen initia- <br />fiv'e has a 15-year sunset. <br />Larimer Coun^; Colorado- .Also <br />near Denver, a 1/4 cent sales tax hike pro- <br />posed by coun^' commissioners would <br />raise 526 million over / v*ears. Acquisition <br />and major development are slated for over <br />tu>'o-thirds of the funds, and operations and <br />maintenance for the remainder. <br />St- Lucie Couniy» Fhirida- .About an <br />hour s drive north from West Palm Beach, <br />a 520 million bond, backed by a small <br />proper^* tax increase, would help buy <br />environmentally significant lands. <br />A new special district, financed by a <br />property aiiettment: <br />Sacramento Coun^* California* <br />People for Safe Parks, a coun^-approved <br />measure, would levy an average yearly <br />increase of $10 per proper^ to fund a new <br />park district. Bonding the revenues would <br />raise 526.5 million o\*er 30 vears. <br />In primaries held earlier chisyeaTf <br />a number of land funding mea ­ <br />sures passed muster with voters* <br />In San Anconio, Texas, local resi­ <br />dents handily approxed a S4I.6 million <br />park acquisition and rehabilitation bond <br />marketed as a "qualiw of life investment." <br />Said ALiyor Nelson WoHF. the vote sends <br />a message to the ciwsyouth "that we are <br />committed to providing recreational space <br />and activities for them." <br />Voters in two regional open space dis­ <br />tricts approved small proper^ assessmenu <br />to buy rural open space, greenways. and <br />trails. In Santa Clara Coun^* California, <br />a 512 average annual assessment xvill raise <br />TOsrrrr..^