Preserve Public Input in Decisionmaking, Oppose Measures that Would Undermine Environmental Policy
Posted: June 20th, 2012
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the undersigned organizations have urged Surface Transportation Reauthorization Conferees to oppose and remove measures in H.R. 4348 that would undermine the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the public participation process from any final transportation bill. These provisions would have the severe impact of shutting out nearly all stakeholders—including low-income residents and communities of color, people with disabilities, older populations, landowners, business owners, and local governments—from
transportation project decisions affecting the health, economy, and environment of their local communities. We urge the Conferees to eliminate provisions that stifle community input in the
transportation planning process.
These provisions would have an acute impact on low-income residents, communities of color,
people with disabilities, and older populations because they are greatly affected by decisions on
community development, public transit, and safety. These communities often suffer the
environmental impacts of transportation routes, transportation distribution, limited access to job
markets, or transportation options that are unsafe. Failure to gather input from these communities
could result in transportation projects that are not fully accessible or decisions that have negative
health impacts on communities where infrastructure development occurs.
Alliance for Biking & Walking
Alternatives for Community & Environment, Massachusetts
America Bikes
American Public Health Association
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, APRIL
Bus Riders Union, California
Chainbreaker Collective, New Mexico
The City Project
Coalition for a Livable Future
Commute-Pratt Center for Community Development
East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, California
Environmental Justice in Transportation Project at Morgan State University
ISAIAH, Minnesota
Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, California
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Milwaukee Transit Riders Union, Wisconsin
NAACP
National Association of County and City Health Officials
National Black Justice Coalition
National Council of La Raza
The National Council on Independent Living
Northern Alaska Environmental Center
Organizing People Activating Leaders-OPAL, Oregon
Partnership for Southern Equity, Georgia
PolicyLink
Poverty & Race Research Action Council
Public Advocates Inc., California
Sacramento Housing Alliance, California
Transit Riders for Public Transportation
Transportation Equity Network
Transportation for America
UPROSE, New York
Upstream Public Health, Oregon
Urban Habitat, California
WEACT for Environmental Justice, New York
Willamette Pedestrian Coalition, Oregon
