|
Economic Stimulus Bill
In early 2009, Congress passed an economic stimulus bill, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help the ailing economy get back on track. The final legislation provides $789 billion in spending and tax cuts to stimulate the economy. ARRA provides an important opportunity for states, cities, counties and schools to create healthier communities. Funding is available in several programs to build sidewalks, bike lanes, pathways, and to create complete streets. This infrastructure can help to create an interconnected bicycle and pedestrian network, improving safety and providing opportunities for increased physical activity for both children and adults.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership worked with coalitions to demonstrate the need for including funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects—including Safe Routes to School—in ARRA. We continue to monitor states’ usage of these funds, and share information with advocates on ARRA funding opportunities.
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.
House moves forward on jobs bill that includes transportation funding
January 7, 2010
In December, the House passed the "Jobs for Main Street Act," focused on creating and saving jobs. The House bill includes $75 billion for a variety of programs, including $27.5 billion for surface transportation and $8.4 billion for transit. The Senate will reconvene in mid-January and one of their first priorities is to work on its version of the jobs bill. While the final jobs bill may differ from the House’s "Jobs for Main Street Act," there are several provisions in the House bill of interest:
-
The surface transportation fund would be allocated similarly to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic stimulus that was passed in February 2009-including a minimum 3% set-aside for Transportation Enhancements, which amounts to $800 million. Many sidewalk, curb cut and bicycle infrastructure projects were funded under the ARRA bill, so this may be an opportunity for significant funding for Safe Routes to School projects.
-
States would also be required to put half of their funding under contract within 90 days of the bill’s passage, which is significantly faster than the ARRA provisions. This could potentially help smaller ready-to-go bicycle and pedestrian projects that would be able to move more quickly through the contracting process.
SRTSNP State Networks Focus on Stimulus Dollars
April 10, 2009
The 10 State Networks periodically focus on new opportunities that arise in their state. This year, the stimulus bill – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – is such an opportunity, and as it turns out, a challenge as well. The funding through ARRA is dedicated to infrastructure, which could mean money for sidewalks, bike paths, pedestrian crossings, and other projects that could help children safely bicycle or walk to schools in the U.S. There are four such eligible categories in ARRA, including highway funding and Transportation Enhancements. State Networks have been working to get some of these funds dedicated to bicycle, pedestrian, and Safe Routes to School projects.
State Networks started by sending letters to elected officials, including governors, state legislators, and transportation agency leaders, asking them to spend money on bicycle, pedestrian, and SRTS projects, and to utilize complete streets concepts – designing and rebuilding roadways for all mode users – when spending the highway funds. The Networks specifically asked that the Transportation Enhancements funding be spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects, not on highway landscaping and beautification. The State Networks also conducted outreach to local communities, organizations, Safe Routes to School leaders, and others to let them know that this funding is available, and to request projects from their local elected officials and agencies.
One big success is that Washington DC has dedicated $4 million in ARRA funding to Safe Routes to School! But in several states, so far virtually no money has been allocated to bicycle, pedestrian, or Safe Routes to School projects. Networks continue to work to influence the spending of money that is still ‘in the bank’.
New Resource Encourages Use of Stimulus Dollars for Healthy Communities
April 10, 2009
To highlight recovery act funds that can be used to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy foods, Leadership for Healthy Communities created a policy brief entitled Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. All of the recommendations in the policy brief are supported by research and accompanied by examples of how similar funds have been used to achieve healthy eating and active living objectives.
Bike/Ped Infrastructure Dollars Available To States, Cities and Counties through ARRA Energy Efficiency Grants
April 1, 2009
This week, the U.S. Department of Energy released guidelines for the billions of stimulus dollars available through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). A total of $2.7 billion will be distributed to states and eligible cities and counties to improve energy efficiency in a number of ways, including through development of bicycle and pedestrian networks. Applications from states are due May 25, 2009 and city/county applications are due June 26, 2009.
In addition to the EECBG funding, advocates should continue to focus on the Transportation Enhancements (TE) funding within their states. States have access to approximately $800 million in stimulus funds for the TE program, and many states are making decisions now about how to program this funding. This is a primary source of funding for bicycle, pedestrian, and Safe Routes to School projects.
For additional information on either of these programs, please review our newly updated Frequently Asked Questions document.
Learn More and Take Action on the Economic Stimulus
February 18, 2009
The economic stimulus bill, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, has now been signed into law. The law provides $789 billion in spending and tax cuts to stimulate the economy, and is an important opportunity for states, cities, counties, and schools to create healthier communities. Funding is available to build sidewalks, bike lanes, pathways, and to create complete streets. This infrastructure can help to create an interconnected bicycle and pedestrian network, improving safety and providing opportunities for increased physical activity for both children and adults. Please review our Frequently Asked Questions for additional information about potential funding sources and then take action to secure funding for bicycle, pedestrian, Safe Routes to School, and Complete Streets projects in your community.
Congress To Move On Stimulus Bill Vote By Weekend
February 13, 2009
The U.S. House and Senate are expected to vote today or tomorrow on a $789 billion economic stimulus package that provides $27.5 billion to modernize roads and bridges, and includes a 3% set-aside of each state’s share of the $27.5 billion for the Transportation Enhancements program, which is a primarily source of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure funding, which can also be used for Safe Routes to School. At least half of funds must be obligated by states within 120 days and the remainder within one year, or the U.S. Secretary of Transportation can recall unobligated funds.
Also included is $8.4 billion to increase public transportation and improve transit facilities; $8 billion for investment in high-speed rail; and $1.5 billion for a discretionary surface transportation grant program to be awarded competitively by the Secretary of Transportation. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration have issued guidance to assist state and local agencies in preparing for implementation of the stimulus bill.
Other sections of the bill include potential funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects through the state fiscal stabilization fund, the Energy Efficiency and Block Grant program, and the Prevention and Wellness Fund. The bill text and joint explanatory statement are now available here. The Partnership will be issuing a Frequently Asked Questions once the bill is signed into law with additional information and next steps for accessing the funding. Check back to our website next week for details.
All Eyes on the Economic Stimulus Bill
February 12, 2009
For the past several months, Congress has been focusing on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, meant to stimulate the economy and create and sustain jobs. Recently, the House and Senate both passed their respective versions of the economic recovery bill, and this week they quickly entered into negotiations, called a conference, to work out the differences between the two bills.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership immediately issued a letter to the conferees asking them to include provisions that would support healthy and green transportation options for families that also create jobs. We also sent out action alerts nationwide, and want to thank the grassroots supporters who swung into action on short notice to call their Members of Congress to ask for their help on these issues.
Stimulus Bill Next Steps: Call Your Members of Congress This Week
February 10, 2009
Congress is nearing the end game on the economic stimulus/recovery bill, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This week is critical for decisions about the final funding levels and programs in the bill, because the House and Senate are now negotiating a final, compromise bill in conference committee.
Please take ten minutes today to call your Senators and House Representative. With your help, we can ensure that Safe Routes to School projects and initiatives that promote bicycling and walking will be able to access some of the recovery bill’s funding. This will create jobs while also making children safer. There are three programs we are focusing on for the final bill: Transportation Enhancements, school modernization funding, and the Healthy Communities program.
Act Now on Federal Stimulus Dollars
January 14, 2009
Congress is currently working on an economic stimulus/recovery bill that is expected to invest hundreds of billions in funding into infrastructure improvements for roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and more. The funding is an attempt to jumpstart the economy and avoid a deeper recession.
Will Safe Routes to School projects be included? The answer to that question may be related to how loudly we collectively demand that Safe Routes to School be funded.
Once Congress passes its legislation, it appears likely that the state DOTs will only have a short window of two to four weeks to submit their final project lists to Congress, documenting how they will spend billions in recovery dollars. While most of these state DOT lists are not public, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group has examined the lists from 19 states, and just 0.3% of their recommended projects are for bike/ped infrastructure, when bicyclists and pedestrians already comprise 10% of all trips.
We need to change this inequitable dynamic and ensure that your local bike/ped projects are incorporated into the lists being prepared by governors and state DOTs. Your bike/ped projects also need to be included on your local community lists being prepared by local officials – including mayors, city councils/board of supervisors, and MPOs. If a concerted effort does not take place immediately, it is likely that the lion’s share of the hundreds of billions being invested in transportation will be focused on road and bridge projects, without a fair share for balanced transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use paths.
Make a difference by taking action this week:
1. Call your local mayor, city councilperson/county supervisor, department of public works, state legislators, and/or MPO and use our talking points to make the case for including bike/ped projects in their lists.
2. Send a letter to your Governor and/or state DOT Director asking that they include your ready-to-go project in their list.
Congress Working on Multi-Billion Economic Stimulus Bill
December 16, 2008
As a way to address the worsening economy, Congress is considering passing an economic stimulus or recovery bill early in 2009 that could include billions of dollars for infrastructure funding for short-term projects and longer-term projects that could be built in two years or less. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is working with a coalition of organizations to make the case that funding for bike/ped infrastructure projects, including Safe Routes to School, should be included in the bill. We are currently collecting information on unfunded SRTS infrastructure projects that could be completed in two years or less to document the need for Safe Routes to School funding in the economic stimulus/recovery bill. To provide information about your SRTS infrastructure project, please fill out our project information survey no later than December 30. The survey can be accessed at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mBJC8OIeo6s3ffEIyfA9ww_3d_3d.
|
