Press Releases

Larsen Leads T&I Dems In Push For Bicycle Infrastructure Funding

Washington, DC, September 10, 2015
Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today led all the House Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in requesting funding for a popular program that supports community investments in infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Larsen and his colleagues asked Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Ranking Member Eleanor Holmes Norton for their continued support of the Transportation Alternatives Program.
“Less than 2 percent of federal transportation funding goes to the Transportation Alternatives Program, which funds bike and pedestrian projects. But communities leverage these small funds to get big results. To make sure safety comes first for everyone who uses our roads, whether they bike, bus, drive or walk, local communities need these resources to invest in bike lanes, sidewalks and trails. Better bike and pedestrian infrastructure not only improves safety, it benefits people’s quality of life by cutting down on traffic congestion and pollution,” Larsen said.
Full text of the letter follows.
September 10, 2015
The Honorable Peter DeFazio
U.S. House of Representatives
2134 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515
The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton
U.S. House of Representatives
2136 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Ranking Member DeFazio and Ranking Member Norton:
As you work on a long-term surface transportation bill, we ask that you continue your history of strong support for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
We greatly appreciate your leadership to support bicycling and walking and to defend against threats to a multi-modal transportation system.  We stand with you in this fight.  For the House transportation bill to be bipartisan, it must not cut funding for TAP or make policy changes that undermine the local availability of these dollars.
As you well know, TAP provides much-needed funds for local transportation priorities, including bicycling, walking and Safe Routes to School projects.  All funds in TAP must be made available through a competitive process, ensuring that the mayors and local leaders who best know their own communities can seek funding for projects that fit their needs.
Communities of all shapes and sizes—rural, urban and suburban—are clamoring for TAP dollars to give their residents lower-cost transportation options that reduce road congestion, improve safety for children and families, and boost quality of life.  These types of projects are also essential to helping cities and counties increase property values, grow retail sales and attract tourism. While MAP-21 gave states the option of transferring up to half of TAP funds to other transportation priorities, just 10 percent of TAP funds have been transferred—clearly showing the demand for these funds across the country. This is a good program and it deserves to continue.
Thank you again for your long history of leadership on this issue. We look forward to working with you to preserve the Transportation Alternatives Program in the House transportation bill.
Sincerely,
Rick Larsen
Member of Congress
Jerrold Nadler
Member of Congress
Corrine Brown
Member of Congress
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Member of Congress
Elijah E. Cummings
Member of Congress
Michael E. Capuano
Member of Congress
Grace F. Napolitano
Member of Congress
Daniel Lipinski
Member of Congress
Steve Cohen
Member of Congress
Albio Sires
Member of Congress
Donna F. Edwards
Member of Congress
John Garamendi
Member of Congress
André Carson
Member of Congress
Janice Hahn
Member of Congress
Richard M. Nolan
Member of Congress
Ann Kirkpatrick
Member of Congress
Dina Titus
Member of Congress
Sean Patrick Maloney
Member of Congress
Elizabeth H. Esty
Member of Congress
Lois Frankel
Member of Congress
Cheri Bustos
Member of Congress
Jared Huffman
Member of Congress
Julia Brownley
Member of Congress
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