February 29, 2012

Dear Senator,

We are writing to request your support for the Cardin/Cochran amendment to MAP-21, to ensure local access to Transportation Enhancement (TE) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funds. This amendment will ensure the effective implementation of TE and SRTS eligibilities by empowering local governments through suballocation of funds to Tier I metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). In addition, for localities outside of Tier I MPOs, the amendment provides a streamlined administrative structure for a statewide pool set aside for these activities. At the same time, the amendment improves capacity for state departments of transportation (DOTs) to partner with locals.

Since 1992, the Transportation Enhancements program has brought tremendous benefits to local communities through improved transportation choice, economic development, historic revitalization, and environmental restoration of the surface transportation system. This program enjoys broad local support in every state. For example, just in one area in Florida, 13 counties, cities and transportation agencies in and around Daytona Beach have passed resolutions supporting federal investment in TE. Local communities also support TE because of the job-creation benefits these projects provide; a recent American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials/Transportation Research Board study found that TE projects create more jobs per dollar than any other type of Federal-aid highway spending. However, a major challenge for state DOTs in implementing this program has been the local-scale orientation of the eligible activities, a non-traditional area for state DOTs. There is limited capacity at the state level for addressing these myriad, sometimes competing, priorities. The Cardin/Cochran amendment resolves these issues in an elegant,

win-win modification of the original bill language.

The Safe Routes to School program similarly benefits local communities by targeting specific schools for infrastructure improvements and educational programs that promote safety. The simple fact is that in the early 1970’s, half of all American kids walked or biked to school; now the figure is only 15 percent. The SRTS program has been profoundly influential in empowering a grassroots movement to turn around this trend. Parents know best what is needed to create safe conditions for their children to walk and bike to school – the Cardin/Cochran amendment brings these decisions closer to them. Every dollar in MAP- 21 available to help children be active and safe should be spent in the most efficient way possible, and the Cardin/Cochran amendment will achieve this.

National Organizations

AARP National Dealers Association Adventure Cycling National Center for Bicycling and Walking Alliance for Bicycling and Walking National Complete Streets Coalition America Bikes National Recreation and Park Association America Walks National Trust for Historic Preservation American Cultural Resources Association National Wildlife Federation American Heart Association Natural Resources Defense Council American Horse Council Outdoor Alliance American Public Health Association Pedal America American Recreation Coalition Performance Bicycle American Rivers PermaTrak North America American Society of Landscape Architects Preservation Action American Professional Trailbuilders Association American YouthWorks Public Health Law and Policy America's State Parks Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Raleigh America Professionals Ride America for Safe Routes Bicycle Technologies International Safe Kids Worldwide Bikes Belong Safe Routes to School National Camelbak Partnership Choose Outdoors American Corporation City Parks Alliance Sierra Club Coalition for Recreational Trails Society for Historical Archaeology Diamondback SockGuy Dirt Rag Magazine SRAM Equine Land Conservation Resource Student Conservation Association eXperticity The Corps Network Institute for Transportation Development Trailsnet.com and Policy Transportation for America International Mountain Biking Association Trust for America’s Health League of American Bicyclists League of Conservation Voters YMCA of the USA

Regional Organizations

Appalachian Mountain Club (CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, WV) The Arkansas River Coalition (AR, CO, KS, OK) East Coast Greenway Alliance (CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VA) Landscape Architects & Planners, Inc. (OH, IL, IN, MI) Mississippi River , Inc. (AR, IL, IA, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, TN, WI) Southwest Conservation Corps (AZ, CO, NM) Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway (CA, NV) Trail Spinners (DE, MD, PA) Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (CT, MA) Upper Valley Trails Alliance (NH, VT)

State Organizations

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists (AZ) Indiana State Alliance of YMCAs (IN) Bicycle Coalition (CA) Kansas State Alliance of YMCAs (KS) California State Alliance of YMCAs (CA) Kentucky State Alliance of YMCAs (KY) California Trails and Greenways Foundation (CA) Louisiana Landmarks Society (LA) Cycle California! Magazine (CA) Louisiana State Alliance of YMCAs (LA) Ecology Action (CA) Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MA) TransForm (CA) Preservation Maryland (MD) Colorado High School Cycling League (CO) Child Safety Solutions (ME) Colorado State Alliance of YMCAs (CO) Maine Chapter of the International Bike Walk Connecticut (CT) Appalachian Trail (ME) Connecticut Main Street Center (CT) Maine Conservation Voters (ME) Delaware Council Greenways & Trails (DE) Maine People's Alliance (ME) Delaware Equine Council – Trails Natural Resources Council of Maine (ME) Committee (DE) Michigan Trails & Greenways Florida State Alliance of YMCAs (FL) Alliance (MI) Florida Trail Association (FL) Motor City Tour Company, LLC (MI) Georgia State Alliance of YMCAs (GA) State Alliance of Michigan YMCAs (MI) Iowa State Alliance of YMCAs (IA) Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (MN) Idaho Conservation League (ID) Missouri State Alliance of YMCAs (MO) Idaho Pedestrian and Bicycle Alliance (ID) Mississippi Main Street Association (MS) Idaho State Alliance of YMCAs (ID) Mississippi State Alliance of YMCAs (MS) Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs (IL) Montana Conservation Corps (MT) Health by Design (IN) Montana State Alliance of YMCAs (MT) Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (NC) Rhode Island (RI) North Carolina State Alliance of YMCAs (NC) South Carolina Horsemen’s Council (SC) Nebraska Trails Council (NE) South Carolina State Alliance of YMCAs (SC) New Jersey Trails Council (NJ) South Dakota State Alliance of YMCAs (SD) New Jersey YMCA State Alliance (NJ) Tennessee Preservation Trust (TN) Alliance of New York State YMCAs (NY) Tennessee State Alliance of YMCAs (TN) Parks & Trails New York (NY) Preservation Texas, Inc. (TX) Ohio State Alliance of YMCAs (OH) Texas Recreation and Park Society (TX) Pioneering Healthier Communities Ohio (OH) Texas YMCA State Alliance (TX) Oklahoma State Alliance of YMCAs (OK) Utah Conservation Corps (UT) Bicycle Transportation Alliance (OR) Utah State Alliance of Ys (UT) Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OR) Washington State Alliance of YMCAs Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PA) (WA) JAYCEE Education & Library Foundation of Wisconsin/UP YMCA State Alliance (WI)

Local Organizations

Baldwin County Trailblazers (AL) Fresno County Economic Opportunities Dothan Leisure Services (AL) Commission (CA) Limestone County Park and Recreation Friends of the El Dorado Trail (CA) Board (AL) Hilride (CA) Historic Park Hill Neighborhood Association (AR) Humboldt Trails Council (CA) Phat Tire Bike Shop (AR) Kirkwood Mountain Resort LLC (CA) Absolute Bikes (AZ) Local Government Commission (CA) TRACKS (AZ) Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (CA) Yavapai Trails Association (AZ) Marin County Bicycle Coalition (CA) Amigos de los Rios (CA) McCloud Local First Network (CA) Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (CA) Move San Diego (CA) (CA) Napa County Bicycle Coalition (CA) Bellfree Contractors, Inc. (CA) Natural Resources Division of Redwood Bicycle Trails Council of the (CA) Community Action Agency (CA) Bike San Gabriel Valley (CA) RRM Design Group (CA) California Public Health Association-North (CA) Ryan Snyder Associates (CA) Cycling Camps San Diego (CA) San Diego Bicycle Coalition (CA) East Bay Area Trails Council (CA) Bay Trail (CA) East Bay Bicycle Coalition (CA) San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (CA) Family Cycling Center (CA) San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition (CA) Santa Cruz Bicycle Industry Coalition (CA) Friends of the Weiser River Trail (ID) Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail Trail (CA) Galena Lodge (ID) Save Our Heritage Organisation (CA) Latah Trail Foundation (ID) Sierra Buttes Trails Stewardship (CA) Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area (ID) Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition (CA) Nampa Bicycle & Pedestrian Citizens Advisory (ID) The City Project (CA) Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (ID) Transportation Agency for Monterey Valley County Pathways (ID) County (CA) Vertical Earth LLC (ID) WalkSanDiego (CA) YRU Contracting Inc (ID) (CA) Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria (IL) Alchemist (CO) B & O Trail Association (IN) Avid4 Adventure (CO) Gray Goat Sports (IN) BetterRide, Inc. (CO) Northwest Indiana Paddling Association (IN) Boulder Bike Tours (CO) Bicycle Pedaler (KS) City of Boulder (CO) GreenWay Alliance (KS) Cycles of Life (CO) Oz Bicycle Club (KS) Everest Realty (CO) Prairie Travelers (KS) Giant Cycling World (CO) The Bike\Walk Alliance-Witchita (KS) Mile Hi Rafting (CO) Preservation Louisville (KY) New Freedom Corporation (CO) Reser Bicycle, LLC (KY) Real Winter Park Inc (CO) Dana Brown & Associates (LA) SAK LLC Beavers Sports Shop, Ski4less, Snow Moore Planning Group, LLC (LA) Mountain Sports (CO) Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans (LA) The Trailhead and Trailhead Cycle & Ski (CO) City of Newburyport – Office of Planning and Tin Shed Sports (CO) Development (MA) Winter Park Resort (CO) Coastal Trails Coalition (MA) Bike & Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton (CT) Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (MA) Wooden Wheels (DE) Great Barrington Housatonic River Walk (MA) A1A Cycle Works (FL) Great Barrington Trails and Greenways (MA) Naples Pathways Coalition (FL) Groundwork Lawrence (MA) Alpha Bikes (GA) Lake Gardner Improvement Association (MA) Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation, Inc. (GA) Squannacook Greenways, Inc. (MA) Cycle World Albany (GA) Bike Doctor (MD) Family Life Chiropractic Center (GA) Bike Doctor Linthicum (MD) Goldens Bicycle Shop (GA) Portland Trails (ME) West Maui Cycles (HI) Beckett & Raeder (MI) Hawkeye Bicycle Association (IA) Calhoun County Trailway Alliance (MI) The Bike Shop Inc (IA) Charter Township of Oakland (MI) Two Knobby Tires (IA) City of Ann Arbor (MI) Brundage Mtn Co (ID) City of Rochester Hills (MI) Eaton County Parks (MI) Triangle Greenways Council (NC) Friends of the Betsie Valley Trail (MI) Yadkin River Greenway (NC) Friends of the Clinton River Trail (MI) Dakota Cyclery Adventures (ND) Iron Ore Heritage Trail (MI) Alliance Area Family YMCA (NE) North Country Bicycle Club (MI) Columbus Family Y (NE) Paul Henry Thornapple Trail Fremont Family Y (NE) Association (MI) Main Street Kearney (NE) Scio Township Paths Technical Advisory McCook YMCA (NE) Committee (MI) Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA (NE) St. Joseph County Parks & Recreation Scottsbluff Family YMCA (NE) Commission (MI) Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack The Greenway Collaborative, Inc. (MI) County (NH) Top of Michigan Trails Council (MI) Likin’ Bikin’ LLC (NH) Continental Ski and Bike (MN) Littleton Bike & Fitness (NH) Country Inn Deerwood (MN) Somerset County Horse & Pony Association (NJ) Cycle Path & Paddle (MN) Sussex Bike & Sport Shop (NJ) Superior North Outdoor Center (MN) Friends of the Edgewood – Oak Brush Plains (NY) Transit for Livable Communities (MN) Go Ride A Bike (NY) Forest Lake Area Trail System (MO) Greenways and Healthy Trails (NY) Historic Kansas City Foundation (MO) Muttontown Horsemen's Association (NY) Missouri Main Street Connection (MO) The Bike Rack (NY) Ozark Greenways (MO) The Serpentine Art and Nature Commons, PedNet Coalition, Inc. (MO) Inc. (NY) Walt's Bicycle, Fitness, and Wilderness Co Cleveland Restoration Society (OH) (MO) InMotion Bicycle Shop LLC (OH) Active Transportation Alternatives (MT) Montgomery Cyclery, Inc. (OH) Beartooth Recreational Trails Association City of Eugene (OR) (MT) City of Springfield (OR) City of Bozeman (MT) Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours (OR) Colstrip Park and Recreation District (MT) Greater Eugene Area Riders (OR) Grant Creek Trails Association, Inc. (MT) Seaside Chamber of Commerce (OR) Green & Green Realty (MT) Single Track LLC (OR) Helena Bicycle Club (MT) Freeze Thaw Cycles (PA) Lewiston Trails Coordinating Committee (MT) Ironton Rail-Trail Oversight Commission (PA) Missoula Parks & Recreation (MT) Central Rhode Island JAYCEES (RI) Seeley Lake Nordic Club (MT) Kent County Junior Chamber (RI) First Flight Bikes (NC) Historic Charleston Foundation (SC) Heart of Brevard (NC) Mississippi River Corridor – TN (TN) Native Trails, Inc. (NC) Ride Royal Blue ATV Resort and Ski Country Sports (NC) Campground (TN) Aggieland Cycling (TX) The Bike Lane (VA) Arrowhead Bicycles, LLC (TX) Feet First (WA) Bike Masters LLC (TX) Cascade Bicycle Club (WA) Bikesport (TX) Eatonville Outdoor (WA) Mad Duck Cyclery (TX) Ferry County Rail Trail Partners (WA) San Antonio Conservation Society (TX) Inland Northwest Trails Association (WA) Wild Planet Earth Adventures, dba Desert Kulshan Cycles (WA) Sports (TX) Lewis County Community Trails (WA) Chile Pepper Bike Shop (UT) The Broken Spoke Bicycle Shop (WA) Grand Staircase Escalante Partners (UT) Wildlife Cycles (WA) Weber Pathways (UT) Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival (WI) Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Big Bear Lake Camplands (WV) Committee (VA) Goosewing Ranch (WY) East Coasters Bike Shop (VA) KGB Productions (WY) Shenandoah Bicycle Company (VA)