Victory: Bike/Walk Funding Saved for Now

From Localmotion.org

This year, around $700 million of Federal transportation funds (less than 2 percent of total transportation dollars) will be spent on bicycling and walking. In 2012 that figure could have been a big fat zero.

Over the last 48 hours, Local Motion members joined over 50,000 advocates in contacting their Senators and successfully getting Coburn (OK) to withdrawl his amendment that would have eliminated the federal Transportation Enhancements program – the primary funding source for the past 20 years for sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, trails, etc. Ending this successful program wouldn’t have been safe or smart; wouldn't have been good for the economy or the environment; and would have been bad health policy and bad transportation policy.

With today's victory, funding for all federal transportation programs has now been extended to March 31, 2012.

Please thank Senator Sanders and Senator Leahy as they have been long-time supporters and continue to work for a multi-modal transportation future.