Federal program to make roads friendlier for walking and bicycling is under fire

A variety of articles have appeared about proposed cuts to Enhancements funding. Transportation Enhancements are the main source of federal funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Here are couple of articles about the proposed cuts:

• Bike paths may suffer under funding plan, Lawrence Journal World
  
• Bike trails' roadblock, The Boston Globe

Before ISTEA and TEA-21 (1992-present), with their mandate to provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities "where appropriate" and with a certain amount of funding set aside for bicycle and pedestrian projects, MoDOT's policy was that no MoDOT road was appropriate for bicycling or walking and so no facilities were provided.

Unfortunately, MoDOT roads are the major arterials cutting through every Missouri city and town. Typically, such roads are the main commercial centers. Making these major roads unbikeable and unwalkable meant that, from the bicyclist's and pedestrian's point of view, every Missouri city was cut into small, disconnected pieces and access to important commercial areas made difficult or impossible.

Since federal guidelines and funding have changed in 1992, the attitude in Missouri has slowly changed. If federal guidelines revert to pre-1992 status, don't be surprised if MoDOT's policies revert, too.

Your senators and representatives need to hear from you now about your support for bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly policies and funding.