I am deeply concerned about the environmental planning process and its effect on safety and our economy. For example, the design work on the Cody to Yellowstone Highway (U.S. 14/16/20) started in 1987, and by 1997 the preliminary design on two-thirds of the project was still not complete. The design work was put on hold until the Wyoming Department of Transportation and various federal agencies could resolve differences on wildlife mitigation issues. These delays exacerbated problems with a road that is unsafe and in dire need of improvement. In addition, tourist traffic to Yellowstone National Park over this road will increase by more than 50 percent over the next 20 years.
I was hopeful that the environmental streamlining provisions of TEA-21 would get the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the environmental community, the States and all other interested parties involved in the process so that we can shorten the time and lessen the design costs of important projects like this one. But I am not as optimistic as I was when the bill passed one year ago. For example, FHWA came out with its "options paper" early this year with some alarming suggestions that would complicate, not streamline the highway program. Further, the draft MOU that is being circulated between the federal agencies is artfully crafted, but I don't see much substance behind the rhetoric. I hope I am wrong about that.
The bottom line is that TEA-21 provides with the opportunity to streamline and simplify the project delivery process while maintaining substantive environmental protections. We should take advantage of it. That will ensure that American taxpayers will get more for their fuel tax dollars.
Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing.