ABSTRACT
This chapter provides urban transportation policies — and, particularly, their implementation—in the context of the larger society. It provides a more complete picture of these policies and practices and their importance to the functioning and livability of American cities. The changing attitudes toward the environment, cities, public interest, and public participation in decision making that swept the country in the late 1960s and early 1970s had a major impact on urban transportation. During the 1980s, the attitude of the federal government toward transportation changed significantly, from promoting and coordinating different modes to a return to distinctly pro-highway actions and policies. Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) was a major departure from previous federal transportation policies. ISTEA emphasizes that the goal in transportation planning — improving accessibility — can be achieved most efficiently by utilizing coordinated intermodal systems, rather than highways alone.
