Federal funding for bike and ped projects drastically cut 

Call Senators Schumer and Gillibrand TODAY

Yesterday, the full Senate Environmental and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved a bipartisan two-year highway reauthorization bill (S. 1813)  by an 18-0 vote. As now drafted, the bill, known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (or MAP 21), will dramatically reduce the available funding for Transportation Enhancements (TE), the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Safe Routes to School (SR2S) by consolidating them into the  Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) fund.  This is one of the most serious challenges ever mounted to these programs since their creation 20 years ago.

In an effort to provide states "more flexibility" in dispersal of transportation funding, MAP 21 eliminates the 10 percent TE Program set-aside completely and rolls it into the expanded $900 million CMAQ fund, thereby placing it in direct competition with not only the RTP and SR2S programs but also big-ticket highway projects. Further, the draft bill includes an 'opt-out' clause which permits states to refuse funding to any TE program.

We must not let this happen!!!  For two decades these programs have had a major impact on the health, quality of life, and economy in our communities.  Even if your community has not yet benefited from one of these programs, chances are you've enjoyed riverwalks, greenways, and other trails through New York and the nation - opportunities that would never have existed without this funding.