Take Action Kodiak: Stand up for Walking and Bicycling!

Today the U.S. House of Representatives released a transportation bill entitled the American Energy and Infrastructure Act.  According to the League of American Bicyclists the new bill completely cut every reference to bicycling and walking out of the federal transportation policy.  They also report that the bill:

• Destroys Transportation Enhancements by making the program optional
• Repeals the Safe Routes to School program, reversing years of progress in creating safe ways for kids to walk and ride bicycles to school
• Allows states to build bridges without safe access for pedestrians and bicycles
• Eliminates bicycle and pedestrian coordinators in state DOTs
• Eliminates language that insures that rumble strips “do not adversely affect the safety or mobility of bicyclists, pedestrians or the disabled”

If you've followed ITN's efforts over the past year you know that Kodiak benefits considerably from these programs and cutting them would be a critical blow to the neighborhood connectivity our community is striving for.  Here are some examples:

• Last week the Kodiak Island Borough voted unanimously to adopt a comprehensive trails plan which emphasizes neighborhood connectivity and recommends improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.  Dismantling TE will remove a major funding mechanism to implement these recommendations.

• Last month ITN teamed up with the Kodiak Island Borough School district to begin a year-long Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) planning process, aiming to reduce hazardous traffic congestion around schools while simultaneously addressing our childhood obesity problem by encouraging students to walk or bike to school.  Cutting SRTS will remove the funding mechanism to implement these plans.

• Last year, thanks to heroic efforts by local citizens Phase I of the Kodiak to Bells Flats bike path has been funded and engineering and design will be beginning soon.  Cutting TE could jeopardize the eventual completion of the project.  

In short, if TE and SRTS programs are cut, many of the proposed improvements from the Kodiak Trails Plan and the forthcoming Safe Routes to School plan may never see the light of day.  We have written letters on behalf of these programs already, but today we're asking you to help make our voice louder.  We're encouraging Kodiak (and all Alaskan) proponents of walking and bicyling in Kodiak to contact Rep. Young.  Cut and paste from this text if you wish, or write you own letter, but please be heard!

Read ITN's letter of January 31 to Rep. Young.