|
State Network Update
April 2009
Policy feature: Stimulus Funding
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’.
California
District of Columbia
Georgia
Illinois
Kentucky
Louisiana
Oklahoma
New York
Texas
Virginia
|
