Tomorrow, Thursday, February 2, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on our nation's next multiyear surface transportation bill.

 

There's no way to spin this: From the perspective of Catonsville trails, walking and bicycling, the bill is a total disaster. Among its worst features are:

• It eliminates dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program-the nation's largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. CRTT has used this funding to surface many of the local trails.
• It completely eliminates funding for the Safe Routes to School program. CRTT had hoped to use this program to get sidewalks for Western School of Tech and Environmental Sciences
• It eliminates funding for bicycle and pedestrian coordinators at state DOTs. CRTT relies on these coordinators to assist us in trail development.

But there's still a chance...

 

An amendment to save trail funding was introduced this afternoon, Feb. 1!

 

Today, with bipartisan support-including U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) signing on as a co-sponsor with Representatives Tom Petri (R-Wis.) and Tim Johnson (R-Ill.)-the amendment is quickly gaining momentum.  Due to its last minute filing it has becoming the major focus of attention for tomorrow's debate and vote on the bill, congressional discussion on the amendment will go late into the night.

 Encourage Elijah to support trails and keep the Transportation Enhancement funding for trails. Please contact Rep. Elijah Cummings office.

 

Give him your own reasons - environmental, recreational, preserving open space with linear parks, reducing obesity, reducing smog. Please be friendly and positive, not sarcastic or mean spirited.