Advocacy Alerts

[UPDATE 11 MAY 2005: The Complete Streets Amendment failed by a vote of 44 to 53. This was a surprisingly strong showing--I think most all the senators and observers were surprised. So this sets us up for success on this issue in the future. Details here. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to write or call about this important issue!]

[Please distribute this alert WIDELY through Tuesday, May 10th, 2005.]

Missouri Bicyclists,

This is a big'un! Please, please, Please, Please, PLEASE, take time to call or email BOTH of our Missouri Senators and ask them to

Please support the 'Complete Streets Amendment' to SAFETEA offered by Senator Harkin. This amendment is revenue-neutral and will help create a safer, healthier environment for walking and bicycling.

Your calls and e-mails to Senators are needed before 5:00pm Tuesday, May 10.

Here is the contact info (please contact both Missouri senators):

Missouri Senator Kit Bond

Click here to email
Phone: (202)224-5721

Missouri Senator Jim Talent

Click here to email
Phone: 202-224-6154
Fax: 202-228-1518

Find senators from other states here.

If we can win this on the federal level we win a MILLION state and local battles all in one. This is really worth spending some time and effort on.

Complete Details About the Harkin Amendment from AmericaBikes
Action Alert: Support Complete Streets Now!

Phone calls and e-mails to all members of the U.S. Senate are needed NOW to support a “Complete Streets Amendment” expected to be introduced on the Senate floor, Wednesday May 11, by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). This exciting development could result in Complete Streets being included in the reauthorization of TEA-21!

After a week-long break, the Senate returns May 10 to debate reauthorization of the Federal transportation program; they hope to conclude that debate later in the week. Your calls and e-mails to Senators are therefore needed before 5.00pm Tuesday, May 10.

Senator Harkin is introducing an amendment to the Senate transportation bill (SAFETEA) that would

* Establish that each State Department of Transportation adopt a “Complete Streets” policy, based on FHWA’s guidance of February 2000, to fully integrate the needs and safety of all road users into the design and operation of streets and highways

* Adopt the goals of the 1994 National Bicycling and Walking Study to increase bicycling and walking and reduce motor vehicle crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians

* Ensure that adequate research is done to support and evaluate these goals, and

* Establish that Metropolitan Planning Organizations with a population of more than 200,000 shall integrate bicycling and walking into their planning and programming activities in a variety of ways

This is an important milestone: it is the first time the Senate has been asked to vote so explicitly on fully integrating nonmotorized transportation into the transportation system. These items are currently not in either the House or Senate transportation bills, and are important elements in the overall America Bikes agenda.

Your support for the Harkin Complete Streets Amendment will also send a strong signal of support for the bicycle and pedestrian provisions that are already in the House and Senate bills.

In your e-mails and calls please stress that a)the complete streets amendment proposes policy changes only; it is budget-neutral

b)“complete streets” addresses safety and access issues for all road users, not just bicyclists and pedestrians but also people with disabilities, transit users, drivers, delivery vehicles etc.

Please call or e-mail your Senator directly or through their Transportation Legislative Assistant. A list of contacts and address can be found on the America Bikes website http://www.americabikes.org/Transportation%20LAs.asp. A draft of the Complete Streets Amendment, with an additional fact sheet, is also available here.

The America Bikes team

Sign up for regular e-mail updates by clicking "join" at www.americabikes.org. Go to the same place to unsubscribe (log in and unclick "keep me posted") Or send us an e-mail and we'll do it for you when we can.
permanent link to article: "[6 MAY 2005, expired] Support FEDERAL Complete Streets Now!"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/06/2005 08:49:00 PM |comment on this article

The United States Senate began floor debate last week on their version of the bill, after a 94-6 cloture vote to proceed to consideration of the bill. However, work will not be finished on the bill until after next week's recess.

The most anticipated amendment, because it could stall the whole process, by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman and Ranking member of the Finance Committee, respectively, to increase the funding amount for the highway and transit programs, will not be offered until the week of May 9. The amendment is expected to increase the total funding level somewhere between $8 billion and $16 billion. Grassley and Baucus have made it clear that any increase in funding would be paid for by savings in other areas and therefore deficit neutral.

Earlier last week, the Bush Administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) reiterating its opposition to a funding level of more than $283.9 billion, the amount approved by the House of Representatives in March. View the SAP here.

The America Bikes team is on edge as these high-profile battles ensue, not only to preserve what we have won in the two versions of the bill over the last three years (yes, three years!), but because of a recent opportunity presented by a brave senator from Iowa. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced his Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2005 (S. 794) on April 14th without fanfare. S. 794, the Safe and Complete Streets Act is a stand-alone bill meant to be incorporated into the reauthorization of TEA-21. It contains three key provisions:

• Nonmotorized Transportation Safety, including a requirement for state transportation departments to adopt a complete streets policy [though it does not specify language]
  
• Safe Routes to School, which adopts the [higher] funding levels and policy language from the House reauthorization bill, and
  
• Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, also taken directly from the House bill.

Sources say he may be preparing for a floor battle amidst the other amendments. Please keep your ears on as Senate action resumes the week of May 9th. The America Bikes team may be calling on several of you in key states to assist in strategic ways. Find more info on recent reauthorization events as well as the Harkin bill at: www.americabikes.org.
permanent link to article: "TEA-21 reauthorization getting lively"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/01/2005 09:56:00 PM |comment on this article