[MRSG] raise a ruckus tosave bike/ped funding

[Mad River Sustainability Group]

Hi MRSG,

This could affect the ability to receive helping funds for bike/pedestrian
projects in the Valley and statewide.  Please read below and contact your
legislators to tell then you support bike/ped funding and want the program
to remain undiminished. -Dennis, dennisd at madriver.com, 496-7662


From: Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition Announcements
[mailto:VTBIKEPED_MEMBERS at list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of nancy at vtbikeped.org
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 11:53 AM
To: VTBIKEPED_MEMBERS at LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Time to raise a ruckus to save bike/ped funding



Hello, friends of the bike/ped community-A simple action from you now  can
help us stop what the administration is doing to significantly  undermine
bike/ped programming and funding. Next week, the full
House is expected to vote on the Transportation bill (H.889). There  have
been rumors for the last two years that VTrans is intent on
discontinuing its bike/ped program. Language in the bill, which was 
submitted to the legislature by the administration, proves that the 
rumors are true. Section 49 calls for allocation of Federal
Enhancement grant monies on a two-year cycle, rather than the current 
annual cycle. In addition, the bike/ped program as it has existed 
previously is being phased out. In fact, all funds for the current  bike
and ped line item are expected to be zeroed out once the
projects currently in the program are built. This leaves the
Enhancements program as the only funding opportunity for these
projects and only every other year.

Please send your legislators an email message this weekend (or as  soon as
possible) to respectfully express your concern about this.  In addition to
letting them know why you feel such funding is
important, please:

1. Object to the discontinuation of funding for Vermont's bike/ped  program
2. Request that Enhancement grants continue to be awarded yearly for  bike
& ped
3. Communicate your belief that transportation in Vermont must be 
adequately funded, even if it means raising new revenue to do so

If you don't know who your legislators are, you can quickly find out  by
googling "Vermont legislature." Some legislators (e.g., Senator  Mazza)
are best reached by a phone call at home or via a message left  care of
the Sergeant-at-Arms office: 800-322-5616 or 828-2228.
Please cc us at: info at VTBikePed.org and please forward this email  alert
to all fellow supporters.

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of bicyclists and pedestrians.  Your
messages DO have an impact!

Nancy Schulz
Executive Director
Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition
PO Box 1234
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 225-8904
www.vtbikeped.org





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