NACo WIR submits recommendations for public lands transportation needs
Author
Zeke Lee
Ben Gilsdorf
Rachel Yeung
Andrew Nober
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Key Takeaways
On September 8, NACo’s Western Interstate Region (WIR) submitted comments and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)’s Request for Information to as the agency develops its priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill.
WIR represents more than 500 counties and boroughs in Alaska, Hawai‘i, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota. WIR’s comments emphasized the need to support transportation priorities in counties with large amounts of public lands. These lands are a major asset for our counties, supporting industries like timber and grazing and providing hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities.
Key recommendations for public lands transportation needs
- Reauthorize Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH) programs: NACo urges continued federal investment in three key programs: the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP), Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), and Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program (NSFLTP). These programs help maintain and improve roads and bridges on and around public lands, while also providing adequate staffing and resources for FLH headquarters, divisions and program offices.
- Support FHWA programs that benefit public lands: Counties also advocate for sustained funding for programs such as the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program to rebuild roads damaged by natural disasters, along with other FHWA programs that provide direct benefits to public lands counties.
- Promote stronger county–federal collaboration: As intergovernmental partners, counties encourage better collaboration between federal and local partners. For example, permitting reform, historic preservation, archaeological reviews and maintenance contracts should involve local consultation to provide expertise and input for the federal government.
- Provide support during regulatory changes: NACo calls for federal funding and technical support to repair and upgrade roads impacted by the repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule and emphasizes the need for consistent, meaningful county engagement in the implementation or repeal of federal rules affecting public lands transportation.
Impact on counties
62 percent of counties have public lands within their boundaries and partner with the federal government to manage and deliver essential services to these areas. Counties rely on roads and highways on these lands for transportation, recreational access and other county services. Ongoing congressional support for public lands transportation programs is essential to the well-being of public lands counties across the country and the continued delivery of local services at a high level.
NACo continues to advocate for county priorities in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill to ensure that transportation needs in all counties are being met.
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