[dc-critmass-list] Fed Transportation Bill and Complete Streets. This is not a drill!

[Eric Gilliland]

 Action Alert: Support Complete Streets Now! 

Phone calls and e-mails to all members of the U.S. Senate are needed NOW to
support a "Complete Streets Amendment" expected to be introduced on the
Senate floor, Wednesday May 11, by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). This exciting
development could result in Complete Streets being included in the
reauthorization of TEA-21! 

After a week-long break, the Senate returns May 10 to debate reauthorization
of the Federal transportation program; they hope to conclude that debate
later in the week. Your calls and e-mails to Senators are therefore needed
before 5.00pm Tuesday, May 10.  

Senator Harkin is introducing an amendment to the Senate transportation bill
(SAFETEA) that would

Establish that each State Department of Transportation adopt a "Complete
Streets" policy, based on FHWA's guidance of February 2000, to fully
integrate the needs and safety of all road users into the design and
operation of streets and highways 
Adopt the goals of the 1994 National Bicycling and Walking Study to increase
bicycling and walking and reduce motor vehicle crashes involving bicyclists
and pedestrians 
Ensure that adequate research is done to support and evaluate these goals,
and 
Establish that Metropolitan Planning Organizations with a population of more
than 200,000 shall integrate bicycling and walking into their planning and
programming activities in a variety of ways 
 This is an important milestone: it is the first time the Senate has been
asked to vote so explicitly on fully integrating nonmotorized transportation
into the transportation system. These items are currently not in either the
House or Senate transportation bills, and are important elements in the
overall America Bikes agenda. 

 Your support for the Harkin Complete Streets Amendment will also send a
strong signal of support for the bicycle and pedestrian provisions that are
already in the House and Senate bills.  

In your e-mails and calls please stress that

a)      the complete streets amendment proposes policy changes only; it is
budget-neutral

b)      "complete streets" addresses safety and access issues for all road
users, not just bicyclists and pedestrians but also people with
disabilities, transit users, drivers, delivery vehicles etc.  

Please call or e-mail your Senator directly or through their Transportation
Legislative Assistant (e-mail addresses and phone numbers provided at this
link) A draft of the Complete Streets Amendment, with an additional fact
sheet, is also provided here . For more information about Complete Streets
please visit here .

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The Thunderhead Alliance is the national coalition that creates, strengthens
and unites state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations.

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