Advocacy Advance
is funded by:
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Recent Training Successes
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Recent Grant Successes
More than $40,000 in Capacity Building and Rapid Response Grants has been awarded to advocacy organizations since the start of 2012. Three organizations completed Rapid Response grants this spring. Read more below!
With only six weeks to convince MnDOT to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on the Interstate 90 Dresbach Bridge, Active Living La Crescent used its grant funds to advocate the FHWA to require MnDOT to reassess the design of the bridge connecting LaCrescent, Minnesota and LaCrosse, Wisconsin over the Mississippi River. In January, MnDOT committed to include accommodations in the revised bridge design. New York Bicycling Coalition received a grant to roll out its campaign to include bike/ped accommodations on the Livingston Avenue Railroad Bridge - the main connection across the Hudson River between the cities of Albany and Rennesslaer. In addition to resolutions of support from the cities of Albany and Rennesslaer and the county of Rennesslaer, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer recently added his support for bicycle and pedestrian access on the bridge. As Safe Routes to School (SRTS) loses dedicated federal funding, Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota creates a model program. BikeMN used grant funds to hire a lobbyist to support passage of a state SRTS authorization, which was passed in May. As a state program, MnDOT can now make a SRTS state budget request. BikeMN will also work to get it included in the Governor's budget recommendation to the legislature in January.
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Recent Resources & Reports
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Join Our Team
Advocacy Advance is hiring a research intern for Fall 2012. Read more and apply
online.
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Welcome to the second newsletter of Advocacy Advance, a partnership of the Alliance for Biking & Walking and the League of American Bicyclists. Our aim is to provide the tools, knowledge and resources to increase federal funding for biking and walking projects and programs at the state and local level.
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Navigating MAP-21
The first half of 2012 has brought us a new federal transportation law (MAP-21). This law reduces dedicated funding for bicycling and walking projects, but eligibility remains. This makes Advocacy Advance more important than ever. We stand prepared to work with state and local advocates and agency staff to maximize federal funding available for bicycle and pedestrian programs and projects.
We have five upcoming MAP-21 Action 2020 Workshops. In addition to providing updates on the new transportation law and the Transportation Alternatives program, these workshops will continue to focus on the CMAQ, HSIP, STP and 402 programs. We will discuss opportunities to tap into these non-dedicated funding programs and strategies to make bike/ped competitive with other transportation projects for limited dollars. Our Advocacy Trainings help workshop participants work through the steps of developing funding campaigns.
We fund your advocacy with Rapid Response Grants. Current Advocacy Advance grantee organizations have made strides in pursuing federal, state and local funding for bike/ped projects and serve as models for maximizing funding, despite the disappointing transportation law.
We developed a National MPO Bike/Ped Task Force to lead the way in establishing the new role for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in directing local funds. We are working with members of the America Bikes coalition to develop resources and coordinate grassroots efforts from all organizations to fully fund, fully staff and fully implement Transportation Alternatives and fully utilize all MAP-21 funding programs. Our lobbying partners are making recommendations for DOT's MAP-21 guidance and for state and MPO application processes. We have supported - and continue to support - advocates around the country with technical and campaign assistance and resources.
The new transportation law is not what we all hoped for. But your advocacy in the long struggle for a new bill kept us as heavy hitters in negotiations and we won a number of impressive victories. Now it's time to roll up our sleeves and fight hard for the next two years to claim our piece of the federal funding pie. Funding decisions happen at the state and local levels, and Advocacy Advance looks forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.
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Attend a MAP-21 Action 2020 Workshop
 Action 2020 Workshops bring together advocates, agency staff and elected officials and are designed to provide the knowledge, skills and resources to access untapped or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs. With a focus on the new transportation law, participants will learn how to maximize funding in the new Transportation Alternatives program and utilize all MAP-21 funding programs for bike/ped at the state and local levels. Register online for an upcoming workshop in your area: - August 15: Concordia, MO
- August 17: Jefferson City, MO
- September 11: Pro Walk/Pro Bike
- September 21: Harrisonburg, VA
- October 17: Rochester, NY
- November 2: New Orleans, LA
Thanks to the generous support of SRAM, these workshops are offered for free.If you have any questions or if you are interested in hosting a future workshop, you can submit a proposal, contact Brighid@AdvocacyAdvance.org. |
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Apply for a Rapid Response Grant
Advocacy Advance has $20,000 available for the rest of 2012 to help state and local organization take advantage of unexpected opportunities to win, increase, or preserve funding for biking and walking. Apply for a Rapid Response Grant - proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
We are pleased to announce the 2012 Capacity Building grantee organizations. These matching grants, funded by Planet Bike, support the development and professionalization of state and local advocacy organizations to increase rates of biking and walking.
Include both orgs' logos
 Bike Walk Mississippi will receive $10,000 to hire a second staff person to work with communities to develop action plans to increase bicycle friendliness. BWM will create a toolkit of resources leading to increased infrastructure, policy and programs on the local level while increasing representation on and ownership of Mississippi's statewide Bike/Ped Plan.
 Living Streets Alliance will receive $15,000 to hire its first full-time executive director to strengthen bicycle and pedestrian advocacy in Tucson. To address the 23 pedestrian fatalities in the region in 2011, LSA's Pedestrian Safety & Comfort Campaign will make walking a safer and more desirable transportation choice through the inclusion of a $25 million county bond package to create "safe neighborhood streets." LSA will also supplement their successful bicycle programs and events with Cyclovia Tucson, the city's open-streets event.
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Contact Us for Technical Assistance and Campaign Advice
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Advocacy Advance staff Brighid, Matt and Darren are here to provide support in your campaigns.
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The Advocacy Advance team researches issues vital to the bicycling community and creates reports and resources that give advocates the data and knowledge they need to effectively access federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Take advantage of Advocacy Advance resources and reports:
Federal funding programs - like CMAQ, HSIP and Section 402 funding
Popular campaigns - like rumble strips, bridge campaigns and climate action plans
Bicycling statistics and research - like commuting data and why states need bike-ped staff
Additionally, the Advocacy Advance staff aids grassroots organizations through their advocacy campaigns. We're on-hand to provide technical assistance and action alerts for urgent funding campaigns.
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In Closing
With the new transportation bill in effect October 1st, Advocacy Advance will continue to be your resource for opportunities and strategies to compete with other transportation projects and tap into underutilized funding program. The partnership looks forward to collaborating with state and local advocates, agency staff and elected officials around the country to meet our ambitious goal of maximizing federal funding for bicycling and walking.
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