RETAIN STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL AND OPEN SPACE PROTECTION DURING THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT ACT

Write your congressman to urge keeping the substantive and effective protections for historic and cultural resources under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. It is FOTP understanding that there is a proposal to weaken these protections during reauthorization of the surface transportation legislation.

In 1966 the U.S. Congress enacted Section 4(f) which provides protection for parks, such as Columbus Park, an historic, publicly owned park in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. With a strong 4(f) review, transportation agencies, such as IDOT which has announced plans for expanding the Eisenhower Expressway and taking the south end of Columbus Park, are prevented from using land from historic sites and parks for road-building “unless there is no prudent and feasible alternative to the use, and if at all possible planning is done to minimize harm.”

Opponents of 4(f) are capitalizing on the frustrations associated with delays in completing complex and expensive highway projects and are spreading the misconception that environmental protection and historic preservation reviews are the primary cause of such delays. Such review does not threaten road building; rather road building threatens historic and park preservation, which is why 4(f) was enacted in the first place.

Weakening 4(f) reviews will not speed up the completion of highway project approvals; but involving citizens and local communities early on in the planning process can guarantee a path to the completion of road projects which are compatible with our historic, cultural, recreational, wildlife and park resources. Section 4(f) promotes a planning process that is flexible enough to embrace alternative solutions that minimize harm to historic landmarks and parks.