Urgent Action Alert for Federal Bike Ped Programs

If you think Congress and advocacy are irrelevant, think again.  This July has become a high stakes, action-packed transportation month in Congress.   
Transportation funding accounts are running out of money and need to be renewed.  There's a funding and policy deadline at the end of the month, and now the Senate wants to turn the federal TIGER* program into a freight program instead of a multi-modal transportation funding program. This could all happen before Congress goes on August recess.  Senator Blumenthal is on the Senate Commerce Committee, which may vote on a key bill tomorrow, Wednesday morning. 

What to do:  
Contact Senator Richard Blumenthal TODAY at 202-224-2823 or https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact/  (choose "Transportation" as your topic).  

What to Say:  
Use this as a starting point but please personalize it:

Dear Senator Blumenthal:

As a member of Bike Walk Connecticut, I am writing to ask for your strong support to continue federal programs that fund biking and walking as active transportation options.

We understand that the Commerce Committee is now considering TIGER funding, complete streets, and roll-on service for bikes on Amtrak.  Accordingly, we ask that you please:

• Co-sponsor S. 1748 to make sure the federal TIGER program continues and that state and local bike and pedestrian projects are specifically eligible for funding; 
• Support the Manchin Amendment that calls for standardized roll-on service for bicycles and wheelchairs on Amtrak; and 
• Support the Heller, Schatz, Markey Amendment to ensure that federal transportation projects are complete streets projects that safely accommodate all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users and motorized vehicles.

Active transportation options are healthy, zero-emission, and relatively low-cost transportation options that are very important to me.  Thank you for working to promote them.  They're the way of the future.

Sincerely,
.....

*Background:  What's the TIGER Program?
TIGER stands for "Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery." TIGER grants have helped fund innovative, multi-modal transportation projects for freight, ports, road, transit, and walking and biking since 2009. The TIGER program helps cut through red tape and provide funding directly to local areas for transportation projects that cut congestion, improve safety, promote economic development, or improve access to jobs and opportunities through smarter transportation investments.  The TIGER program remains critical for local trails and bicycle and pedestrian projects. 

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Thanks for speaking up for biking and walking!
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