For many years, roads, bridges and other
transportation needs competed unsuccessfully for funding with
other National Park Service (NPS) infrastructure needs. When
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act was passed in 1982,
the NPS began to reverse many years of neglect.
The initial funding levels led to slow but
steady improvements in park roads and bridges. However, the
next two Highway Trust Fund Authorizations offered less money,
allowing NPS transportation systems to deteriorate at a rate
of 1-3% annually.
When the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (TEA-21) was enacted in 1998, it provided
sufficient annual funding levels to stabilize the condition
of the NPS transportation systems.
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