Constituent Mail Bag

Statement

From Chula Vista:

As one of your constituents, I am contacting you today to let you know I think bicycling and walking need to be part of the next federal transportation bill.

I am extremely concerned to hear that Congress is considering eliminating the only major sources of funding to make bicycling and walking safer in our communities, including Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School.

From 2000 to 2009, 47,700 Americans were struck and killed while walking, and another 688,000 were injured. Furthermore, since 2009, only half a dozen states actually dedicated Highway Safety Funds specifically to bicycle and pedestrian projects. This is clearly a national problem, as 67 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the last ten years occurred on federal-aid roads eligible to receive federal funding for improvements.

I urge you to work with your colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Appropriations Committee to ensure that dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, such as Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to Schools, and Recreational Trails program, remain in the next transportation bill.

Congressman Filner replies:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for bicycling and walking programs.

I wholeheartedly agree! I have long supported funding to help states improve pedestrian safety, including the Transportation Enhancements (TE), Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program.

Please be assured that I will continue to support these programs!

Source