Reported by the joint conference committee on May 22, 1998; agreed to by the House on May 22, 1998 (297-86) and by the Senate on May 22, 1998 (88-5)
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton on June 9, 1998
The United States federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is a federal transportation bill enacted June 9, 1998, as Pub. L.105–178 (text)(PDF) and 112 Stat.107. TEA-21 authorized federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for a 6-year period from 1998 to 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.
History
The bill was introduced in the House by Bud Shuster (R–PA) on September 4, 1997.
The transportation equity act requires that seven planning factors be included in regional transportation plans. The plans must:
support the economic vitality of the metropolitan planning area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity and efficiency;
increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users ;
increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and for freight;
enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system across and between modes, for people and freight;
promote efficient system management and operation; and
emphasize the efficient preservation of existing transportation systems.
Factor 4 was amended by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005 and 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".[1]
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