One of the biggest challenges to making communities more walkable and bikeable is that there’s often only enough funding to build one stretch of pathways or sidewalks at a time—meaning that there aren’t complete networks from homes to schools, workplaces or other destinations.
While we are only three weeks into 2014, there have already been several signs that transportation will be on the front burner this year with Congress and the federal government.
While it seems that the MAP-21 transportation law passed fairly recently, Congress only passed a two-year bill and MAP-21 expires in September 2014. Congress is starting to hold hearings on the transportation law and to consider how to fund the next bill.
Ready to act? Contact your members of Congress now. Want more background? Keep reading...
In my last post, I talked about the government shutdown and how the fighting over funding could be a bad sign for the next surface transportation bill, given the $15 billion per year funding shortfall.
After Congress and the President were unable to agree on a deal to continue funding for federal agencies and programs through the annual appropriations process, the federal government was shut down and non-essential employees were sent home. The shutdown is now in its second week, and there is no sign of progress towards a resolution.
Last week, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) released their draft strategic plan for FY2014-2018. This plan will drive the USDOT’s internal workplan, so it’s important to make sure Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking is well-represented.
This week, both the House and Senate are considering their transportation appropriations (or funding) bills. Because most transportation funding is locked in through MAP-21, we don’t have to fight for funding every year like most programs. (See more on timing updates below)
It’s hard to believe that it has been more than a year since Congress passed the transportation bill, MAP-21, which consolidated Safe Routes to School into the Transportation Alternatives program (TAP).
While schools are out for summer and many Americans head out on vacation, things on Capitol Hill have been heating up. I’ve got updates on a range of federal policy topics to share with Safe Routes to School advocates.