Senate transportation bill includes bicycle funding

[karlos]

Despite the disappointment with the transportation bill going through the House dropping all bicycle and pedestrian funding, the Senate has stepped up to the plate and added an amendment to keep the funding. This is from the League of American Bicyclists.

"After several long weeks of intense work from advocates around the country, we are extremely pleased to report that the Cardin-Cochran amendment has been accepted as part of the base Senate transportation bill, MAP-21.  This amendment will ensure that local governments, school systems, and metropolitan planning organizations are able to access much-needed funds for to make routes to school and routes throughout communities safe for bicycling and walking.

Thank YOU for making this Senate win a reality!  We are one step closer to a federal transportation law that makes streets safer for all users. Please consider calling your Senators to thank them for including the Cardin-Cochran amendment, and to ask them to vote for MAP-21.

Here is the contact information for your Senators.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (202) 224-3841
Sen. Barbara Boxer (202) 224-3553

The list of who we need to thank for this important victory is long, and you will be hearing moreâ€"but our most immediate thanks go to:
Senators Cardin (D-MD) and Cochran (R-MS) for championing this amendment and ensuring that local governments have a voice in transportation planning and projects;
The leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sens. Boxer (D-CA), Baucus (D-MT), Inhofe (R-OK), and Vitter (R-LA), for including this amendment;
Dozens and dozens of national partners who helped get the word out about this amendment;
Hundreds of state, regional and local organizations who spread the word to their constituents and got local leaders to take action; and
Tens of thousands of individuals who called and emailed their Senators to ask them to vote for the Cardin-Cochran amendment.
Of course, there's lots of work ahead. With this change, we now strongly urge the Senate to move forward quickly on passing this much-needed transportation bill, MAP-21. 

While this is a big victory and a big step forward, we still have a ways to go before it can become law.  Your help will be key over the coming weeks to ensure that the Senate bill passes, to restore bicycle and pedestrian funding in the House, and to make certain that any extension retains Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails.

But, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.  For now, let’s all take some time to celebrate this testament to the value that Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking have to our local governments and in our communities.

Check our website in the coming days for a more detailed statement. And, once again, thank you!

Sincerely,

The League of American Bicyclists"