The Current State of Play on the Transportation Bill

America Bikes

Adventure Cycling Association

Alliance for Biking & Walking

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals

Bikes Belong

International Mountain Biking Association

League of American Bicyclists

National Center for Bicycling and Walking

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Partner Organizations

America Bikes Platform

Complete Streets Increased Investment in biking and walkingSafety

Safe Routes to School Fair share for Safety

Livability

Federal funding for Bicycling and Walking

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects

2009- 2010 – Good News

Recovery ActTransportation Enhancement Set Aside TIGER Program

Oberstar BillSurface Transportation Authorization Act

Secretary LaHood LivabilityBicycle and Pedestrian Policy

Health Bill

Obama Proposal

$50 Billion for Infrastructure / jobs Rebuild Roads Invest in Rail and Transit Repair Airports and Update technology

Innovative Financing Performance Measures

“Jump Start on a 6 year transportation bill”

Challenges

Extensions Highway Trust FundPartisan politics

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

2010 (Pro

jected

)$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

Requires that ALL potential users of our streets and roads–including bicyclists – are taken into account in the planning, design, operation, and maintenance

of ALL federally funded projects.

Complete Streets

Complete Streets -Why do we need it ?

Although endorsed by FHWA in 1999, no federal leadership or oversight for guidance

Bicycle and pedestrian investment is only about 1.5% of federal transportation budget.

Crucial to ensure a balance for all modes

Complete Streets -STAA

Comprehensive Street Design policies and principles (CSD)

Federal CodeBe consistent with CSDProvide Adequate Accommodation

Office of Livability Encourages states to adopt policies Collects and shares best practices

Does not require states to adopt a policy Does not include elements of a

complete streets policy.

Complete Streets

S.584: Introduced by Senator Harkin (D-IA) 14 Cosponsors

H.R. 1443: Introduced by Congresswoman Matsui (D-CA) –58 co-sponsors.

Requires states and MPOs to adopt complete streets policies,

Insure policies are flexible and cost-effective, allowing exemptions

Directs USDOT to track and report on Compliance

Includes penalty for non- compliance

Complete Streets Challenges

Cost Concerns Rural Compliance Penalty Provision

OpportunitiesOver 20 states and 130 communities have adopted policies Emphasis on Performance Measures

Build Active Transportation Systems

Infrastructure themes in America Bikes platform:

Focused investment: systems shift trips

Enhance existing funding programs

Emerging policy opportunities and designs

Active Transportation Investment Fund

Active Communities Transportation Act ACT Act, H.R. 4722

1. focused federal investmentAve. $400M/year for 5 yearsCompetitive multi-year grants: $25M-$75M/cmty

2. complete integrated systems 3. mode shift

Cleveland, OH

Active Transportation plan will put all residents within 10 minute bike ride of trail linked to major employment and

activity centers

SYSTEM

Trip Length

Short Trips Dominate: ¼ within 20 minute walk, ½ within 20 minute bicycle ride

27% of all trips are <1 mile

48% of all trips are <3 miles

87% of all trips are <15 miles

Progress and Challenges

Broad support for ACT Act Blumenauer + 67 House cosponsors 53 community case statements 400 organizations and local elected officials Senate counterpart, champion

Partisanship on Hill (not in communities)

U.S. Bike Route System

Proposed national network of bike routes between communities

Signed (#) routes using existing facilities

Adventure Cycling/AASHTOSeek recognition and implementation

Bread and Butter Programs

Transportation Enhancements

Recreational Trails

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)

Authorization levels/Reforms/Rescissions

Emerging Opportunities

Climate: “CLEAN-TEA”

Economy: Stimulus/jobs

Health: Prevention and Public Health FundCommunity Transformation Grants

Innovative Design

Enable communities to experiment with innovative active transportation designs

Innovative Design Summit (Bikes Belong/RTC)

NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006Year:0

2,500

5,000

7,500

10,000

12,500

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Bridge Bicycle Traffic

Bikeway Miles

Bridge Bicycle Traffic2,850 3,555 3,885 3,830 3,207 4,520 5,225 5,690 5,910 6,015 7,686 8,250 8,562 8,87510,19211,956Bikeway Miles 78 83 86 103 113 144 166 183 213 222 235 252 254 260 262 263

Build It, They Will Come: Portland, OR Alta/PedNet

Cyclists

Per

Day

Bik

ew

ay M

iles

1992:83 miles of bikeways

2,850 daily trips

2006:263 miles of

bikeways~12,000 daily trips

Safe Routes to School America Bikes Platform

Reauthorize SRTS at a “substantially higher” level3x as many applicants requesting 4x funds available nowJust 6% of schools nationwide will receive a grantWould take $17 billion to award just 1 grant to every K-8 school

Expand to include high schools17.6% of high school students are obese;activity levels lowWould help transition to life-long habits

Safe Routes to School America Bikes Platform

Improve project delivery and reduce overheadReduce challenges and delays from “title 23” highwayregulationsExempt non-infrastructure projects from these regulationsRequire FHWA and State DOTs to use existing practicesand precedents that will speed implementation of infrastructure projects

Ensure a fair balance of funding to all types of communities, urban, suburban and rural

Current Status - Senate

Senate bill introduced, S. 1156Encompasses all aspects of the platform, plus $600 million funding level and setaside for research and evaluationIntroduced by 5 Senators: Harkin (D-IA), Burr (R-NC), Sanders (I-VT), Collins (R-ME), and Merkley (D-OR)Now have 25 total Senators as sponsors

SRTSNP Director Deb Hubsmith invited by EPW Chairman Boxer to testify about safety and SRTSRanking Member Inhofe (R-OK) is not supportive but understands there is broad support in the Senate

Current Status - House

House T&I Committee’s STAA draftChairman Oberstar (D-MN) is the creator of Safe Routes to SchoolIncludes recommendations to improve project delivery and reduce overheadStrengthens data collection and evaluationCharges a new FHWA Office of Livability with administering SRTSMakes a number of technical changes to strengthen the program

H.R. 4021 – Safe Routes to High SchoolsOberstar is not supportive of expanding to high schoolsat this time; this standalone legislation is meant to build support Introduced by Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Bono Mack (R-CA) with 8 other cosponsorsNow have 44 total cosponsors

What’s likely? (If a transportation bill moves forward…)

An increase in funding—but not likely as ambitious as we hopeLanguage that reduces overhead and simplifies project deliveryStronger language on research and evaluationLanguage requiring state DOTs to track income and geographic distribution of their SRTS grantsPotential for expansion to high schoolsdepends on overall funding level

Building Support and Addressing Concerns

In summer 2010, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor included SRTS in his “YouCut” initiative

SRTS was not selected either time by the votersAdvocates placed over 1500 calls and emails to Members of Congress in support of SRTS in 36 hoursSRTSNP has met with a number of House Republicans since then to shore up supportThe program does have bipartisan support

Twenty state networks are holding educational Member site visits during October 2010, with a focus particularly on Republican Members of Congress

Fair Share for Safety

Fair Share for Safety13% fatalities = 13% of funding

Explicit bicycle and pedestrian safety goals

Safety GoalsA [___] percent reduction..of highway fatalities ...

A [__] percent reduction.. of serious injuries...

• Drivers• Passengers• Motorcyclists• Pedestrians• Bicyclists/pedalcyclists

A [__] percent reduction … in the annual number of crashes

• Drivers• Passengers• Motorcyclists• Pedestrians• Bicyclists/pedalcyclists

Safety: STAA

NHTSA section 402 Changes of goals to include specific modes

HSIP (Highway Safety Improvement Program) Better planning requirements

More teeth related to performance goals No specific bike/ped mention in the goals

Safety- Next Steps

Marker bill? National Transportation Objectives Act Reduction of Crashes as safety goal

Performance measures

Livability- Promoting Biking and Walking

Consolidation of Bike/Ped projects Improved data and research Education and Encouragement

Livability - STAA

Office of Livability Federal Highway Administration Home for all bike/ped programs, including US Bike Route System Clearinghouse for best practices, better research and data Requires Mode Share Goal to be set

Role of Office is to Promote and Encourage. Unclear actual influence, staff or funding

Livability

AdministrationDOT/ HUD/EPA partnership Performance Measure under Obama Proposal DOT strategic plan Discretionary funding – TIGER, FTA, etc.

Funding From CongressFY 2011- House – Office of LivabilityFY 2011- Senate – Funding for Livability Grants

Livable Communities Act

Next Steps

November- December 2010ElectionsLame Duck Session

Extension expires December 31, 2010 Shorter bill Extension

Debt Commission Report

January –August 2011 2013?

Questions

Walter FinchLeague of American Bicyclistswalter@bikeleague.org

Kevin MillsRails-to-Trails Conservancykevin@railstotrails.org

Margo PedrosoSafe Routes to School National PartnershipMargo@saferoutespartnership.org

Caron WhitakerAmerica Bikescaron@americabikes.org