BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—The Obama Administration more than doubled spending on walking and bike transportation infrastructure projects in 2009 compared to 2008.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) spent $541 million on walking and biking in 2008, with the 2009 figure soaring to $1.19 billion (Federal Highway Administration online data), according to a press release. While the funding increase is primarily due to an influx in dollars made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which accounts for $453 million of the spending increase, there is reason to believe that Congress and the Obama Administration will continue to prioritize walking and biking in the future.
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood released a policy statement in March 2010 articulating a shift in the DOT’s project agenda that places active transportation projects, such as multi-use paths and bridges, on par with motorized transportation infrastructure projects.
To see where the money came from and what states got the most, click on link to view DOT chart.
