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Transportation Issues
Congress is working on the next version of the surface transportation bill, which includes funding and policies affecting a wide variety of transportation modes and projects. In addition to advocating for the federal Safe Routes to School program, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership also works with coalitions and partner organizations to support other transportation policies and programs that can help create a supportive environment for Safe Routes to School and help build a sustainable transportation system.
Key partners in this effort include America Bikes, National Complete Streets Coalition, and Transportation for America. Together, we are working to see that the next surface transportation bill includes:
• Increased funding for bicycling and walking, including the Transportation Enhancements program and Safe Routes to School;
• Requirements that jurisdictions pass Complete Streets policies that ensure that the needs of bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, and people of all ages and abilities are addressed in future road improvements;
• Performance outcomes for transportation projects that include the impact on the health of people and communities;
• A more cohesive transportation system with greater accessibility and mobility for all Americans that allows for greener and healthier transportation choices.
Latest News and Information:
Transportation bill in a holding pattern; jobs bill under discussion
February 3, 2010
Since Senate Democrats no longer hold a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority, bills that are controversial or require the outlay of significant new funding—like the transportation and climate bills—are more difficult to pass. Senate leaders have started negotiations on their jobs package. The Senate may work on several jobs bills, and it looks like funding for transportation (including Transportation Enhancements) will be included, but at a lower level than the House-passed jobs bill. It is possible that infrastructure funding could be held back for a future bill. In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Transportation continues to hold listening sessions around the country to discuss the future of the transportation bill. Network organizers in Louisiana and Minnesota attended the first two listening sessions to discuss the importance of the federal Safe Routes to School program for safety and livability.
Congress passes transportation extension
January 7, 2010
Before adjourning for the holidays, Congress passed an extension to the current SAFETEA-LU transportation bill, which allows transportation funds to continue to flow until February 28, 2010. All existing programs, including Safe Routes to School, will continue to be funded at their FY2009 levels through the end of February. The House also included a provision in other legislation (the jobs bill) to extend SAFETEA-LU until September 30, 2010—if the Senate concurs, action on the transportation bill would slip until late this year or next year.
Continued uncertainty on timeline for transportation bill
December 2, 2009
Congress has shifted its primary focus to health care and the unemployment numbers, leaving little room for movement on transportation and climate bills. However, the current extension for the SAFETEA-LU transportation bill expires on December 18. Congress will have to act by then to ensure that transportation funds continue to flow. There has been talk of Congress passing a six-month extension, but the situation is still very fluid. Congress and the Administration are also discussing passing a “jobs bill” to address the rising unemployment rate. Many ideas—including transportations spending—are currently being considered to accelerate job growth. The size and make-up of the bill have not been worked out, but Congress hopes to have a bill passed by the State of the Union in January. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is monitoring the situation for opportunities to include Safe Routes to School funding in the package.
Transportation Bill Update
November 3, 2009
Congress has again pushed back a decision on the timeline for the transportation bill. All transportation programs have been extended one more time, at FY2009 funding levels, until December 18, 2009. There continues to be disagreement between the House and the Senate about the best way of proceeding on a long-term transportation bill. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is using this delay to ensure that Members of Congress know the value of Safe Routes to School.
Transportation Bill in a Holding Pattern
October 13, 2009
During September, Congress was unable to come to agreement on the length of the extension to the current transportation bill, which was set to expire on September 30, 2009. As we’ve reported previously, the House was pushing for a 3-month extension, while the Senate and Administration have been pushing for an 18-month extension. The House and Senate could not come to agreement, and instead did a short-term 1-month extension. That means discussion over the timeline for when to consider the next transportation bill will continue throughout October.
The Latest on the Transportation Bill
September 10, 2009
The House and Senate have approximately three weeks left before the current transportation bill expires, and must come to agreement on the length of an extension. The Senate and the Administration want a longer extension of 18 months, while the House prefers a much shorter extension. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee may move forward with further consideration of its existing House transportation draft bill in the meantime. Whatever the length of the extension, it is expected to continue all current transportation programs at their current fiscal year 2009 funding levels. However, an extension may create difficulties for state DOTs in committing to new projects and grants as they will be receiving money in installments over the course of the year. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership will continue to monitor state DOTs to ensure that Safe Routes to School funds are awarded and obligated in a timely fashion.
Transportation Bill Update
August 11, 2009
Both the House and Senate have passed a bill that fixes the funding shortfall for current transportation programs until the end of September. The current transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, expires at the end of September—but there is disagreement about how to proceed. The Senate has already moved forward on legislation that would extend the current transportation bill another 18 months (funding all programs, including SRTS, at the FY2009 until March 2011). The House prefers to focus on passing a full transportation bill instead of a long-term extension. The House and Senate will have to resolve their differences and decide on a way forward for the next transportation bill before the end of September.
House Transportation Bill Moves Forward; Strengthens Safe Routes to School
June 24, 2009
On Monday, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released its draft of the transportation bill, called the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. Although the overall bill is expected to ultimately include around $450-500 billion over six years, no funding levels are included for any program at this point. The bill is instead meant to outline the new structure for surface transportation programs and policy changes.
The bill was approved unanimously today by the House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. The next step will be for the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to work with the Ways and Means Committee in July to determine the financing for the bill. Once that has been worked out, the bill can continue forward through the legislative process. For for more information on SRTS in the bill, click here.
Update on House Transportation Bill and Safe Routes to School
June 19, 2009
Over the past few days, there has been a lot of movement on the transportation bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. On Thursday, June 18, Reps. Oberstar, Mica, DeFazio, and Duncan, who are the lead Democrats and Republicans on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, released a Blueprint of the transportation bill. For more information, click here.
House Transportation Bill May Be Unveiled This Month
June 8, 2009
Chairman Oberstar of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee may be releasing a draft of the next transportation bill, or at least white papers outlining his intended approach, this month. To prepare for the transportation bill, Members of Congress spent much of May building support for their priorities. Reps. Blumenauer (D-OR), Lipinski (D-IL), and Edwards (D-MD) each took the lead on letters to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in support of SRTS and other bicycle/pedestrian and safety programs. Several dozen Members of Congress signed on to the letters, which help demonstrate that there is broad support for the program’s expansion in the next transportation bill.
Contact Your Member of Congress Today to Make Sure Bicycling, Walking, and Safe Routes to School Are a Part of Our Transportation System
May 19, 2009
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership needs five minutes of your time to help make sure that Members of Congress support bicycling and walking in the multi-year federal transportation bill, a draft of which is scheduled to be released in a couple of weeks.
There are two different “Dear Colleague” letters being circulated in the U.S. House of Representatives that call for increased federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs in the next transportation bill. With your help as a constituent, we can get a critical mass of Members of Congress to sign on to these letters and show strong, broad support for bicycling, walking, and Safe Routes to School in the next transportation bill. For more information on signing onto these letters, click here.
Transportation for America Issues Blueprint for Transportation Reform
May 14, 2009
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership joins the Transportation for America Coalition in supporting the Route to Reform, a detailed plan to recreate the nation’s transportation programs to build a smart, safe and clean transportation system that provides transportation options to all Americans. The Route to Reform outlines a renewed vision for the federal transportation program as well as ways to pay for it, coupled with a restructuring that can produce results. If the reforms outlined in the blueprint were enacted by Congress, Americans would see more funding dedicated to public transit, bicycling, and walking—and would have safer, healthier, and cleaner options for getting around. Specific recommendations pertinent to Safe Routes to School include setting a national performance goal of tripling the mode share for walking, bicycling, and transit in 20 years; expanding the Safe Routes to school program; requiring Complete Streets policies; prioritizing senior and pedestrian safety; and creating a new “Transportation for Livable Communities” grant program.
Transportation Bill Coming Soon
May 12, 2009
Rep. Oberstar, Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has indicated he will be releasing his version of the transportation bill in early June. Recently, Congressman Oberstar has said in the media that the overall bill will likely total somewhere around $400-$450 billion, which would be a significant increase over the last transportation bill of $286 billion—but that the financing mechanism will be determined yet this summer. We are working closely with Chairman Oberstar’s staff to ensure that Safe Routes to School is included in the draft. We are also partnering with America Bikes on a support letter that members of the House Transportation Committee can sign to show support for Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets, bicycle/pedestrian funding, and a “fair share for safety.”
America Bikes Releases Transportation Authorization Priorities
April 10, 2009
America Bikes, the coalition of eight national bike organizations, has released its transportation platform. Overall the recommendations encourage Congress to invest 3% of transportation dollars into bicycling and walking, which will help double the mode share of bicycling and walking. Among numerous recommendations, the America Bikes platform also endorses reauthorizing and expanding funding for Safe Routes to School.
Transportation for America Releases Town Hall Resources
April 10, 2009
Transportation for America, the nation’s most diverse coalition working to reform the upcoming federal transportation bill, is collaborating with partners to organize town halls and house meetings across the country. The purpose of these meetings is to document discussions about the kinds of transportation projects communities want, and why those projects should be funded by the transportation bill. Leaders in health and safety will play a vital role in these discussions, joining a national movement to tell our members of Congress that we want transportation projects that improve the health and safety of residents. Make your voice heard by organizing a town hall or smaller gathering in your area. Review the customizable toolkit at http://t4america.org/townhalls, and e-mail Rochelle at rochelle.carpenter@t4america.org if you would like to learn more!
Complete Streets Legislation Introduced
March 24, 2009
Both the House and Senate have introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009 (H.R. 1443 and S. 584). The leads for the legislation are Rep. Matsui (D-CA) in the House and Sen. Harkin (D-IA) in the Senate. The bills would require that states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) adopt ‘complete streets’ policies that ensure that future road improvements also take into account the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and people of all ages and abilities. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership included Complete Streets in our transportation reauthorization platform and supports the bills. To ask your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the Complete Streets legislation, please use the National Complete Streets Coalition’s sample letter.
Organizations Work Together in Support of Linking Health and Transportation
November 7, 2008
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership took the lead in circulating an organizational sign-on letter that asks Congress to include health performance outcomes in the next transportation bill. A total of 170 organizations signed on in support of a transportation bill that encourages projects that are safe, allow for active transportation, and not detrimental to the environment.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Releases “Active Transportation for America” Report to Congress
October 20, 2008
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) released the “Active Transportation for America” report to Congress at a press conference including Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Funded by Bikes Belong Coalition, the report findings quantify for the first time the significant contribution that bicycling and walking can make to our nation’s transportation system and makes the case for increased federal investment in bicycling and walking.
Partnership Submits Comments on the US DOT’s Vision for the Next Transportation Bill
October 3, 2008
In July 2008, the US Department of Transportation released its vision for the next transportation bill. To read their report, please click here. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership submitted official comments in October 2008 indicating that the report does not include walking and bicycling as a mode of transportation, nor does it recommend health as a performance outcome for transportation projects.
Rep. Matsui Introduces Complete Streets Bill in US House; Senator Coleman Signed on to Senate Version of Bill
May 1, 2008
Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), took an important step for safer, better designed streets today by introducing the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2008 into the US House. The bill would make sure that roads built and improved with federal funds safely serve everyone using the roadway – including pedestrians, people on bicycles or those catching the bus, as well as those with disabilities.
“Once again, gas prices have hit record highs this week. As American families continue to feel the pain at the pump due to the skyrocketing costs of gasoline, they are driving less and less,” said Rep. Matsui. “By diversifying our roadways, we can provide real alternatives to travel by car.”
Meanwhile, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) signed on this week as first Republican co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, S2686, the Complete Streets Act of 2008, introduced a few weeks ago by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Thomas Carper (D-DE). This is the first time that comprehensive complete streets bills have been introduced in the House and Senate.
Transportation Tomorrow Report Ignores SRTS
March 14, 2008
In January 2008, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released a report called “Transportation Tomorrow” with recommendations for the future of federal transportation policy, programs, funding, and revenue generation. Unfortunately, the report ignored Safe Routes to School, walking and bicycling. Congressman James Oberstar, Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee invited Deb Hubsmith, Director of the SRTSNP, to submit official written testimony to Congress in response to the report.
National Complete Streets Bill Is Introduced in the Senate
March 3, 2008
On Monday, March 3, 2008, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced Senate bill S. 2686, The Complete Streets Act of 2008. The Complete Streets Act of 2008 was introduced to ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users as well as children, older individuals, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on streets and highways. The bill would require that State DOTs and MPOs develop complete streets policies for the use of federal funds.
Co-sponsors and supporters of S. 2686 are essential - please call or write to your Senator today to gain their support. Visit the Complete Streets website for talking points, fact sheets, and updated information. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is supporting this bill, as complete streets help to make our roadways safer for everyone, including children, the most vulnerable users.
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