Here's an excerpt from the Tri-State (NY/NJ/CT)Transportation Campaign's
latest edition that you might find interesting -- especially in light of
efforts everywhere to preserve "livable communities."

Mary Krugman
______________________________
Subj:    Mobilizing the Region 159
Date:   2/2/98 3:33:15 PM EST
From:   [log in to unmask] (Tri-State Transportation Campaign)

                 MOBILIZING THE REGION

A Weekly Bulletin from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign

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Electronic Edition 159                      January 30, 1998
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<Excerpts from HEADLINE: NEWS>


Governor Christine Whitman's focus on the problem of
sprawl development at her inauguration has won praise and
excited debate around the state. Specifics the Governor
mentioned are land acquisition and faster development
approval in "centers" designated by the NJ State Plan. These
leave many questions about effective sprawl-fighting
strategies outstanding, only a few of which we can spotlight
here:

* Does the administration make any connection between
land use and transportation?  The NJ DOT Long Range
Plan, adopted in 1995, stated: "...added [highway] capacity
may not provide permanent congestion relief if land use
policies encourage sprawl development; added capacity may
generate even more traffic."  But there's little evidence any
heed is ever paid to this point.

* What is NJ DOT's role re: the State Plan?  At a land use
conference in the summer of 1996, the president of
Princeton's Center for the Analysis of Public Issues said, "Of
all the departments, the DOT is probably lagging the farthest
behind in ensuring its actions are consistent with the State
Plan," because of heavy suburban and ex-urban road widening
and building activity.

 Nothing has changed in the last year and a half. In the TIP
amendment the Department is now preparing for north Jersey
(MTR #157), for instance, at least one-third of funding ($135
million) is dedicated to new highway capacity. The capacity
investment includes several new highway alignments that will
act as "can-openers" for sprawl development.

* Will the administration implement screening criteria for
roads and transit investments that can indicate whether a
project will promote or contain sprawl development?  NJ
citizens concerned for the state's cities, farms and forests
would like to know.
                *       *       *

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Mobilizing the Region is a weekly publication of the Tri-State
Transportation Campaign, available by fax or electronic mail.
We invite tips and contributions from readers. The Campaign
was formed in 1993 by 14 leading public interest
organizations dedicated to restructuring transportation policy,
infrastructure and choices to promote environmental health
and sustainability, economic efficiency and social equity in
the 32-county region in and around NYC, from Trenton and
Poughkeepsie to Hartford and Montauk.


MTR#159.  Contributing: Bill Yates    Editor: Jon Orcutt
Executive Director, Janine Bauer