DEDICATED FUNDING FOR BICYCLING AND WALKING HAS BEEN CUT in the House's Transportation proposal. Chairman Mica would eliminate critical Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails Programs, programs that he referred to as “not in the national interest”. Chairman Mica’s statement that these uses remain “eligible” for funding is worthless; without dedicated funding for these three programs they are effectively eliminated.
Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe, a lead negotiator in the Senate debate, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’ This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking. However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution – and Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycling and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination.
We need every single person who simply wants safe options to walk or bicycle to contact their Senators and Representative TODAY! We ask all Alliance member organizations to engage your members to make these calls as well.
We have attached some sample language that you can ask your members to use when contacting their Senators or Representative. In addition, thanks to our friends at the League of American Bicyclists, you can also direct your members to use the LAB Action Center (making it easy for them to make contact) at : http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/1/LUQLQDFCVS/LPLMQDFCWU/7104034941.
Not in the National Interest?
Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the US – even as funding for biking and walking projects only account for 1.5% of the federal transportation budget. – that’s more than 4 billion bicycle trips and 40 billion walking trips a year- including trips to work, school, shopping and for recreation and tourism.
Frivolous?
Bicyclists and pedestrians are the victims of reckless highway design, accounting for 14% of all traffic related deaths. Two-thirds of all pedestrian deaths are on federally funded highways. Bicycling and walking programs build sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways, improving accessibility and saving lives.
The Facts
Biking and walking are important forms of transportation, and dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements is a very efficient use of federal transportation dollars. Portland, Oregon built a 300-mile network of bike lanes, multi-use trails, and bike boulevards for the cost of one mile of highway.
These projects also create jobs, and build local economies. Building bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure creates 46% more jobs than building road-only projects per million dollars spent. Cities that invest in bicycle and pedestrian projects turn downtowns into destinations, and capitalize on increased business activity.
Finally, shifting 1.5% of transportation spending has no impact on the federal budget, but instead, decreases transportation options for American families in a time of rising gas prices and an uncertain economy.
Help Protect Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails. Contact your Representative and Senators, and tell them to reach out to Senators Inhofe, Boxer, and Congressman Mica to urge them to continue dedicated funding for these important biking and walking programs. We need every Senator and every Representative to speak out for walking and biking.
Why Now
Both the House and Senate long-term transportation bills are being written as we speak. We still have a chance of influencing the outcomes. Let’s make sure that dedicated funding for biking and walking programs don’t disappear for many years.
Your Next Steps:
We have included some sample language that you can ask your members to use when contacting their Senators or Representative. In addition, thanks to our friends at the LAB, you can also direct your members to use the LAB Action Center (making it easy for them to make contact) at : http://capwiz.com/lab/utr/1/LUQLQDFCVS/LPLMQDFCWU/7104034941.
We really appreciate your efforts to help all of us maintain these important programs. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Grandstaff
Member Services Director
That's a lot to absorb. One more tidbit, the word is that tomorrow TDOT will be reporting back to the feds how Tennessee plans to apportion the $51.9 million give back. So far we only know that Urban STP funds and highway safety funds will be exempt. One might presume rumbling to be in the safety funds.
ReplyDeleteSo unless you want the only thing related to cycling they will fund in rural ares to be rumble strips, click on the capwiz link and fill out the form. I composed a more personal letter to Diane Black but accepted the stock version for the senators. Head counts will matter more than any persuasive arguments.
This should not be a partisan issue but it is. Tennessee Republicans can be our friends. Give them some cover.
Bruce
Sorry, but until bicyclists are required to obtain a license plate AND pay "road use" fees & taxes, they have NO PLACE on the highway - EXCEPT where bicycle lanes are provided.
ReplyDelete^ So in other words, next to no where. Nice try. Same old argument. I pay for my "road use" in spades. Every time I make a purchase, those taxes are paid. Items do not get shipped via zeppelins or carrier pigeons, but through use of gasoline. Also, I still drive. Me & my family still drive. Between 2 cars, more than 5,000 miles every 3 months. So the "road use" of my bicycle (which causes no damage to the road what so ever) is covered.
ReplyDelete