Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) was enacted June 9, 1998, as Public Law 105-178. TEA-21 authorized the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 6-year period 1998-2003. Because Congress could not agree on funding levels the Act, which had continued past 2003 by means of temporary extensions, was allowed to lapse.

The transportation equity act requires that seven planning factors be included in regional transportation plans: the plans must:1. support the economic vitality of the metropolitan planning area;, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity and efficiency2. increase the safety and security for the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users 3. increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and for freight4. protect and enhance the environment promote energy conservation and improve the quality of life, 5. enhance the integration of connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight, 6. promote efficient system management and operation, 7.emphasize the efficient preservation of existing transportation system.

ee also

*Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act
*Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
*

External links

* [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tea21/index.htm TEA-21 official web site]
* [http://www.nspe.org/govrel/gr2-4020.asp National Society of Professional Engineers]

Factor 4 was expanded by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005 and now reads: "protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns". See 23 USC 135(d)