Bicycle Advocacy Alerts--Missouri Bicycle Federation

A subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to eliminate the funding for Enhancements in the federal transportation bill.

Enhancements funds most bicycle and pedestrian projects across the U.S.

The Internation Mountain Biking Association has a good summary of the issue and what you can do about it.

This is a great opportunity to (again) let your elected representatives know that you support bicycling.

Here is a summary of the issue from BikeLeague News:

The House Transportation Appropriations subcommittee recently cut federal funding for a majority of bicycle projects for FY 2004 by prohibiting funds from being used for transportation enhancements. They have also severely cut or eliminated funding for a number of other bicycling sources, such as the Transportation and Community Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP).

The full Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on this measure as early as Monday, July 21. The League is requesting all bicyclists contact their Members of Congress and urge them to restore funding for bicycling in the Transportation Appropriations Bill for FY 2004. Regardless of whether your member is on the Appropriations Committee or not, it is imperative that ALL Members of Congress realize how important enhancements and TCSP funding is to bicyclists. Not only do we need funding restored for FY 2004, but your message should also serve as a future reminder to Congress that these programs must be preserved and strengthened in TEA-21 reauthorization.

To contact Congress, please visit the League's new Advocacy Center. You can determine who your Senators and Members ofCongress are and send them a message on this issue as well as other issues
of importance to bicycling.

Please do take the time to contact U.S. Senators and Representatives from Missouri about this issue. In a tight budget year, funding for bicycle and pedestrians projects will be under constant pressure. Our elected representatives need to know that their constituents support bicycle and pedestrian projects and funding.

At a time when inactivity, obesity, and related problems are rising at such a rate that they have been labelled an "epidemic", and 10% of roadway fatalities are pedestrians and cyclists, while less than 1% of funding is directed towards projects that would improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and connectivity, it is good public policy to support continued funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Funding for such projects should be maintained and increased, not slashed.

Your representatives need to hear you say that.

Especially important for this issue is Representative Jo Ann Emerson, from Missouri's 8th District (the southeast corner of the state, including Farmington, Rolla, and Cape Girardeau), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. If you know cyclists who live in the 8th District, please have them contact Rep. Emerson's office.

Click here for a list of Missouri Enhancement projects (totalling $115 million of federal funds) and District 8's Enhancement projects (totalling 8.1 million federal funds).

Comments: 1 comment on this article

Brent wrote:

07/16/03 07:42pm • 12.134.11.160

Summary of Enhancements projects in Missouri
--------------------------------------------
Future projects like this will not be funded if the proposed cuts go through:

Total Missouri Enhancement Funds, 1992-2002: $115,428,485
Total Missouri Enhancement projects, 1992-2002: 474

Missouri Project Highlights:

Katy Trail--including many phases and associated projects
Carter Creek Bike/Ped Trail, Rolla
St. Louis County Sidewalk Program
Trolley Track Trail (Kansas City)
Riverfront trails in Hannibal, Cape Girardeau, St. Joseph,
St. Louis, and Kansas City areas
Indian Creek Trail (Kansas City area)
Award-winning urban parkway/trail system in St. Joseph
Ozark Greenways Trail System
Many other greenway projects around the state
Many other sidewalk projects around the state

Summary of Enhancements projects in District 8
----------------------------------------------
Future projects like these will not be funded if the proposed elimination of Enhancements funding goes forward.

The following lists most District 8 Enhancements projects, but is not exhaustive.

Total federal funds from all District 8 projects listed below: $8.1 million
Total number of District 8 projects listed below: 44

Cape Girardeau (total federal funds, $2.3 million)

Lexington Trace of Cape LaCroix Trail
Lexington Trace of Cape LaCroix Trail - Phase II
Ped/Bike/Landscaping/Scenic Beautification
Mississippi River Walk Riverfront
Mississippi River Walk Phase II
Cape Girardeau Trailway System (5 mi)
Red House Interpretive Center
Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge (Aesthetic Lighting)

Rolla (total federal funds, $1,116,000):

TEA-21 Walking/Biking Path - Phase III
TEA-21 Sidewalk Improvements - Phase I
Walking/Bikepath Phase 4
Walking/Bikepath Phase 5
Path Along UM-Rolla Athletic Field (1.78 mi)
Carter Creek Bike & Ped Trail - Phase II
City of Rolla - Engine 1501

Park Hills (total federal funds, $475,000)

Park Hills Greenway
Parkland Bike Way

Other projects:

St. Francois County Jail and Bikeway, Farmington, $281,789
St. James/Maramec Iron works Bike Path, St. James, $249,152
Hargrove Bridge Rehabilitation, Butler $199,440
Pedestrian Sidewalk in Fisk, Fisk, Butler, $84,551
Highway 60/67 Interchange Landscaping, Poplar Bluff, Butler, $61,600
Pedestrian Pkwy on Rte D Btwn Middle School & Park, Jackson,Cape Girardeau, $220,000
Jefferson Street Pedestrian Bridge, Jackson, Cape Girardeau, $43,308
Van Buren Bridge Pedestrian Walkway, Carter, $640,000
Dunklin County Welcome Center, Dunklin, $50,000
Rte 63 and North Bus. 63 Interchange Enhancement, Howell, $128,000
Rte 60 & Rte 63 Interchange Landscaping, Howell, $250,000
Landscaping Intersections, Iron, $38,606
Fredericktown Bikeway & Historic Hwy - Phase I, Fredericktown, Madison, $252,256
Fredericktown Bikeway/Historic Hwy - Phase II, Fredericktown, Madison, $185,879
Marquand Museum and Trail, Marquand, Madison,$205,598
Pedestrian Walkways, Portageville, New Madrid, $75,129
Dorena Ferry Landing/Mississippi River Trail, Dorena, Mississippi, $62,000
Railroad Museum & Tourist Information Center, Thayer, Oregon, $45,206
Entrance Landscaping, Pemiscot, $26,714
Sikeston Bus. & Tech. Park Treescape Project, Sikeston, Scott, $8,151
Railroad Depot, Sikeston, Scott, $50,574
Clearwater Lake Ped/Bike Trail MO, Wayne, $147,851
Sam A. Baker Park Bicycle/Ped Trail, Wayne, $191,050
McKenzie Creek Bridge, Piedmont, Wayne, $81,627
Highway 65 - Bee Creek Interchange, Branson, Taney, $124,018
Acquisition and Landscaping of Railroad R/W, 2001, Branson, Taney, $523,840
(Only part of Taney Cty is in the 8th District; I'm not certain if these projects are within the boundary or not, regardless, they certainly benefit all residents of Taney County)

Web link: http://staff.mwsc.edu/~bhugh

Related:: News: Harkin "Complete Streets" Amendment fails; MO Sen. Bond speaks against; News: Federal Complete Streets Amendment offered--your support needed; News: Important information about Transportation Enhancements and TEA3; News: Congress: New Climate Change Bill Passes House Committee; News: Nationwide bicycle/pedestrian "Call Congress" day today (Feb 10th)

16 July 2003: Federal funding for bicycling in danger for 2004; vote scheduled for July 21st

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