Image via Bike League
Every year, federal funding for bicycling and walking (a program called “Transportation Alternatives”) gets tossed about in the storm called “House debates federal transportation re-authorization.” This year is no different.
Next week, the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will vote on a bill to reauthorize the federal transportation law. There is a chance that the bill will damage the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). TAP is a tiny discreet funding program that is dedicated to bicycling and walking and Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects. It accounts for, at most, only 2 percent of all federal transportation funds.
So, we need you to pull out your keyboards and help us out. Send an email to your member of Congress. In particular, if you live in the 4th, 6th, 9th or 11th District of Pennsylvania (Congressman Perry, Costello, Shuser or Barletta, respectively) or the 2nd District of New Jersey (Congressman LoBiondo), we need you to contact your Congressman to ask that they vote to support (not damage) the Transportation Alternatives program. These five Members of Congress sit on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
Even if you don’t live in those districts but are a Pennsylvania resident, Congressman Shuster should hear from you as he is the Chair of the Committee.
Step 1 – Click here to confirm who represents you in Congress.
Step 2 –
- If you live in the 6th District, send an email to: Congressman Ryan Costello
- If you live in the 4th District, send an email to: Congressman Scott Perry
- If you live in the 9th District, send an email to: Congressman Bill Shuster
- If you live in the 11th District, send an email to: Congressman Lou Barletta
- If you live outside the 4th, 6th, 9th or 11th District, send an email to: Chairperson Shuster
- If you live in the 2nd New Jersey District, send an email to: Congressman Frank LoBiondo
Please share this blog post with friends and colleagues. It’s critical that the Members of Congress hear from their constituents about the value of this program!
To get an idea of how many projects throughout Pennsylvania received Transportation Alternatives Program funding, read through the list of the 88 projects that were awarded funding in 2014.