WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN)—A proposal to re-allocate money from the federal Transportation Enhancements program to fund bridge repairs was defeated in the Senate with a vote of 60-38 yesterday.
The majority of federal funding for state and local bicycling and walking infrastructure comes from Transportation Enhancements, a program that represents less than 2 percent of the nation’s highway funds.
News of the amendment (SA-821), proposed by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, put advocates and the industry on alert with the League of American Bicyclists and Bikes Belong asking supporters and members to contact their states’ Senators to oppose the proposal late last week. According to Bikes Belong, its partners generated more than 50,000 letters in 48 hours.
Advocates said if passed, the amendment would eliminate approximately $700 million in federal funding used to construct sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, trails and other infrastructure for fiscal year 2012.
To see how each Senator voted, click on link above.
