Urgent! Tell the Finance Committee You Want Bike Ped Funding

Send Your Remarks to the Finance, Revenue Bonding Committee BEFORE 11 am Mon. April 27

Okay bike ped supporters--it's time to act!  Everybody who wants Connecticut to be a great place to bike and walk needs to send that message loud and clear to the legislative Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee before 11 am on Monday.  That's when the Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on the Governor's transportation funding proposal, HB 6840.  

The Governor's proposal includes $101 million for bike ped funding for 2016 through 2020, which is the "five year ramp up" phase of the 30 year plan.  HB 6840 includes a variety of bonding requests that will allow the state to fund improvements to our active transportation system, including bike lanes, greenways, multiuse paths, and pedestrian networks, along with improvements to bridges, transit, rail and roads.

Act Fast!  Tell the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee you want funding for a first-rate bike and pedestrian transportation system! 

Please email your support for bike & pedestrian funding and HB 6840 in Word or PDF format to FINtestimony@cga.ct.gov  before 11 am on Monday, April 27. State your support for bike ped funding and HB 6840 in the subject line. Include your name and town in your message.

To:  FINtestimony@cga.ct.gov 
Subject:  Please support HB 6840 and bike and pedestrian funding 

Sample message (tailor these points to make the message your own!)  Be sure to include your name and town of residence.

To the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee:  

As a member of Bike Walk Connecticut, I support the Governor's proposals to develop and fund a first-rate active transportation network of bike lanes, greenways, multiuse paths, and pedestrian infrastructure in Connecticut. Please support HB 6840.

• Biking and walking are cost-effective ways to reduce traffic congestion, and they're good for the environment, our health, and our economy. 
  
• Bike lanes, sidewalks and greenways cost a fraction of what it costs to build and maintain roads.  People want to bike and walk more, but many don't feel safe without bike lanes, greenways and sidewalks. Build them and people will use them.
• Since transportation is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases in Connecticut, consider that biking and walking couldn't be greener ways to get around. Active transportation must be a key piece of our climate action plan. 

• Connecticut's car-dependent lifestyle is not the lifestyle that millennials or the creative class have in mind.  A well-designed active transportation network will help bring millennials and the creative class to Connecticut and keep them here, strengthening our economy.  Additionally, walkable, bikeable places would boost tourism immeasurably, with benefits spreading throughout our economy.

For so many reasons, it's time for Connecticut to become a great place to bike and walk.  Please support HB 6840.

Thank you.

Related:  

• The Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee public hearing on HB 6840: will take place on Monday, April 27 at 11 am in LOB Room 2E.
  
• HB 6840,  AN ACT CONCERNING INVESTMENTS IN CONNECTICUT'S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. Bill language.
  
• Let's Go CT-Transportation Vision:  5 Year Ramp Up Plan. 30 Year Vision.