Evaluation of State Enhancements Programs
While the federal government created the basic list of 12 transportation enhancements, many states have added their own guidelines. These rules, which are normally available on a state's department of transportation web site, vary significantly from state to state. The following list helps preservationists questions evaluate state procedures.
- Does the program heavily favor one or more of the enhancement activities? If most of the money is going to one or two activities, then the other ten or eleven activities are being shortchanged.
- Does the program recognize the exteriors of historic structures as eligible activities under landscaping and other scenic beautification? In addition to trees and other plantings, are historic structures in transportation corridors seen as contributing to scenic beautification?
- Who makes the approval decisions about enhancements, and how are they made? Do representatives of other state agencies--e.g. travel, tourism, community development, historic preservation, parks and recreation--participate? Is there a citizen's advisory committee?
- Does the state transportation agency encourage communities and other organizations to take advantage of the enhancements program to meet eligible and pressing local needs? Does the agency take steps to help non-traditional enhancements project sponsors navigate administrative procedures? Does the agency provide services to sponsors to help them develop the most competitive applications? Is such encouragement applied across the board to all of the twelve enhancement activities?
- Do the state enhancement rules promote fair and open competition, or do they limit competition and pre-determine winners and losers?
