Hosted by AmericanTrails.org

Safe Routes Partnership promotes Transportation Enhancements and Healthy Communities

From Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

This is not a time to build [bike paths]. If we are going to invest in infrastructure, invest in infrastructure that actually makes the economy more efficient, such as roads that are needed.
-- Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009

Comments like those above are misguided. Please act now for active transportation funding.

Along with others, like Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who offered an amendment to prohibit funding for walking and bicycling, Sen. Ensign does not realize that more trails means people walk and bike more and drive less. This translates into less congestion, healthier people, a healthier planet, more money available to our communities, and much, much more.

Moments ago, the U.S. Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Unlike the House of Representatives’ version of the bill, the Senate did not explicitly fund Transportation Enhancements (TE), the nation’s primary funding source for active transportation.

However, the Senate and House will work to reconcile their differences “in conference” over the next few days.

1) We must convince the Senate to protect TE in conference:

To look up your senators and their phone numbers: http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

The Senate conferees are Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Max Baucus (D-Mt.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). If your senator is on this list, be sure to ask that he personally protect TE in conference.

Call both senators with the following message:

I am calling to ask that Senator ______ encourage the Senate conferees to protect Transportation Enhancements in conference.

2) House of Representatives

Find your representative and his/her number: http://www.house.gov/

The House conferees are expected to include Representatives David Obey (D-Wis.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), and Henry Waxman (D-Cal.).

Next, please call the member's and convey:

I am calling to thank the House for passing a recovery package that explicitly funded Transportation Enhancements. I would also like to ask Representative _____ to encourage the House conferees to protect Transportation Enhancements in conference.

Here are some talking points to consider in your phone calls:

* There are more than $3.4 billion of shovel-ready active transportation projects that could use this infusion of resources to put people to work, meeting the economic stimulus and active transportation needs of communities across the country.
* These smaller TE projects can move quickly to hire local businesses and help local economies.
* Because they are more labor-intensive and less materials-intensive than highway projects, bicycle and pedestrian projects create jobs at the same or better rate.
* Promoting active transportation increases a region’s attraction, thereby supporting local businesses.
* Providing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian access provides more affordable transportation options, freeing up discretionary spending for other needs.

For more information see the Rails to Trails website

More resources:

Bibliography
Quotations
Glossary
Acronyms
Tools
Trailbuilding
Wildlife and trails
Planning
Maintenance
Volunteers
Products & services

Do you need training?
Do you have training opportunities you'd like to publicize?
Are you a trails expert who can teach trail skills to others?
The National Trails Training Partnership wants to work with you to make training more available.

Contact us!