Making the Brownfield-Transportation Link: Smart Growth Options for States and Metropolitan Areas

A decade ago, passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) marked a turning point in transportation policy. ISTEA gave states and metropolitan areas much-needed flexibility to set their own transportation funding priorities; it also encouraged them to pursue their transportation goals in concert with community and environmental goals. ISTEA and its successor, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), have opened up opportunities to coordinate transportation planning and community land use planning—which for much of the post- World War II period took place in separate spheres. Some states have run with these new options, creating not only improved transportation efficiency, but also redeveloping browntlelds and reaping economic, community, and environmental benefits linked to smart growth