Federal Active Transportation Policy in Transition

Active transportation has become an increasingly important policy area over the past 40 years as communities around the country have sought to provide transportation options that improve community quality of life and minimize negative environmental impacts. Federal infrastructure investments supporting walking and bicycling have, however, been contentious. This article explores the underlying tensions created as active transportation has been included in the federal transportation planning process over the past 40 years. Specifically, the article tracks the succession of transportation bill funding levels and changes in policy actors during this period. Structural changes that provided dedicated funding and expanded public participation have been vital to helping to foster the burgeoning active transportation coalition and to increasing usage rates for active transportation around the country.