WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) Jan 27, 09:56 MT— The League of American Bicyclists and America Bikes sent a call to action to members Friday requesting that they ask their representatives to help preserve funding for biking and walking.
The national advocacy groups said they expect the House Transportation Committee to vote on a key amendment to the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act next week. As it’s currently drafted, the house bill eliminates the two largest programs that fund biking and walking infrastructure—Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School—they said.
“That’s why we’re working to introduce an amendment that will preserve funding for biking and walking,” the League said in the email.
The text of the bill hasn’t been released, but America Bikes said it’s learned through conversations with legislative staff that it will eliminate crucial funding programs. America Bikes plans to examine the bill’s language when it is released later this week or early next week.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to vote on the amendment next Thursday, Feb. 2.
The feds have allotted funding for biking and walking for the past 20 years. In 2009, as much as $1.2 billion went toward 3,010 biking and walking projects. Federal funding has slowly increased since 1992, the first year of dedicated funding, when $23 million was spent on walking and biking.
But recently, this funding has come under attack and a new transportation bill could eliminate federal funding for biking and walking projects altogether.
For more information, see America Bikes' timeline on the house transportation bill’s progress.
