Washington, DC ?EUR??,,????'??+ The American Planning Association (APA) has applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing, by a strong bipartisan majority, an amendment to H.R. 2989 that restores mandatory funding to the extremely beneficial Transportation Enhancements program. The program provides funding for pedestrian, bicycle and trail facilities, as well as for protecting historic, scenic and natural resources and beautifying transportation corridors. The final vote was 327 to 90 to preserve the Enhancements program. ?EUR??,,????'??We commended Reps. Tom Petri and John Olver for their leadership in offering this important amendment and the strong bipartisan majority in the House who supported this vital program,?EUR??,,????'?? said APA Executive Director Paul Farmer, AICP. ?EUR??,,????'??Planners throughout the country have used the Transportation Enhancements program to help curb sprawl and improve the quality of life of our communities.?EUR??,,????'?? Since 1991 when the enhancement program was established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), funding for Transportation Enhancement improvements has been mandatory. More than 17,000 local projects have been funded since the program began. ?EUR??,,????'??Congress will be hard pressed to find a better return on the investments communities make with these funds,?EUR??,,????'?? Farmer said.