Abstract:
This paper serves as a guide to citizens who want to get involved in
transportation funding decisions in California and Oregon. First, the
transportation funding process is described. Second, public
participation is explored as a concept and spectrum of practice. This
paper reviews the federal requirements of states and metropolitan
planning organizations. Then it discusses laws, such as the National
Environmental Policy Act, that can be used to challenge federal
funding decisions. Next, a case study for Oregon and California is
performed to describe their unique funding strategies and public
participation opportunities. The case studies cover the strongest state
laws advocates can use for certain causes. For example, Oregon’s land
use laws and California’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions laws
shape many transportation decisions. Finally, the paper reviews a court
case in each state where land use law (Oregon) or GHG emission
reduction targets (California) were successfully used to change the
outcome of transportation decisions.
