Over 300 Organizations to Congress: Embrace Trails, Walking and Biking As Key Components of a Complete Transportation System
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Over 300 Organizations to Congress: Embrace Trails, Walking and Biking as Key Components of a Complete Transportation System June 9, 2015 Dear Members of the 114th Congress: On behalf of the undersigned organizations and the millions of Americans we represent across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we write to express strong support for continued federal investment in walking and biking net- works and recreational trails as part of our nation’s transportation infrastruc- ture. Robust funding of the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and other federal programs that ensure that Americans are able to safely walk or bike is critical to providing the transportation options needed by a mobile pub- lic. Safe places to walk and bicycle are a key part of our nation’s transportation future. The number of users of trails, sidewalks, cycling “green lanes,” and bike paths grows each year as people take advantage of opportunities to safely walk and bike created by federal investments already made in such facilities. Millions of Americans are now using these pathways or trails every day for recreation or to get around. Many do so by choice; others from necessity. Ac- tive transportation options provide critical access to jobs, schools, and other daily destinations to those for whom automobiles are beyond their means or abilities. Investment in these assets provides hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits to Americans, much of it in the form of transportation, health and environmen- tal savings. Shifts to walking and biking, and sustained investment in its infra- structure, will avert automobile trips that contribute to congested roads. The Recreational Trails Program (housed within TAP) is more than paid for by users of trails themselves. It is funded by the gas tax levied against motorized trail users, but shared by all types of trails. The weekend ATV rider may well be a weekday bike commuter, with both activities conducted on a facility sup- ported by RTP funding. Trail systems benefit all and contribute to a well- balanced transportation system. The current level of federal investment in walking and biking infrastructure and recreational trails comprises only 1.5% of federal spending on surface transportation. It is not a significant factor in our transportation funding gap and cutting it would not solve, but hamper efforts to reduce the federal deficit. Rather, the building of networks of trails and other walking and biking facili- ties should be prioritized in our next transportation reauthorization. It’s time to embrace a balanced 21st century transportation vision for America. Sincerely, Interior Trails Preserva- tion Coalition Chico Velo Trailworks Friends of Belfast Parks Carrabassett Valley Recreation Department Southbridge Trails Southwest Boston Community Committee Development Corporation Springfield, MA Southern Madison Heritage Trust National Organizations National Organizations Mary Pat Raimondi, Vice President, Strategic Policy Pam Gluck, Executive Director and Partnerships American Trails Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Redding, California Washington, District of Columbia Kit Keller, Executive Director Jennifer Rigby, Director Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals The Acorn Group Cedarburg, Wisconsin Tustin, California Billy Altom, Executive Director Patrick Cunnane, President and CEO Association of Programs for Rural Independent Advanced Sports International Living (Parent company of Fuji Bikes, SE Bikes, Kestrel Little Rock, Arkansas Bicycles, Breezer Bikes, and Oval Concepts) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jim Johnson, President BikeToursDirect Brighid O'Keane, Interim Executive Director Chattanooga, Tennessee Alliance for Biking & Walking Washington, District of Columbia Catherine Nagel, Executive Director City Parks Alliance Scott Bricker, Director Washington, District of Columbia America Walks Portland, Oregon Peter Walker-Keleher, Senior Planner DJ&A, P.C. Engineers, Surveyors, and Planners Jim Whitehead, Executive Vice President and Chief Missoula, Montana Executive Officer American College of Sports Medicine Maite Arce, President & CEO Indianapolis, Indiana Hispanic Access Foundation Washington, District of Columbia Graham Melstrand, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs Michael Replogle, Managing Director for Policy & American Council on Exercise Founder San Diego, California Institute for Transportation and Development Policy Peter Olsen, Vice President New York, New York American Hiking Society Silver Spring, Maryland Jeremy Fancher, Interim Director of Government Affairs Abigail Zenner, Government Affairs Associate International Mountain Bicycling Association American Planning Association Boulder, Colorado Washington, District of Columbia Amy Rauworth, Director of Policy & Public Affairs Donald P. Hoppert, Director, Government Relations Lakeshore Foundation American Public Health Association Birmingham, Alabama Washington, District of Columbia Caron Whitaker, Vice President, Government Roxanne Blackwell, Director, Federal Government Relations Affairs League of American Bicyclists The American Society of Landscape Architects Washington, District of Columbia Washington, District of Columbia National Organizations Cont’d. Jesse Prentice-Dunn Sierra Club Lamar Hasbrouck, Executive Director Washington, District of Columbia National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) John Mueller, President Washington, District of Columbia Tony Dipino, General Manager Deb Dipino, Manager Stefanie Seskin, Deputy Director Sutter Equipment Company, Inc. National Complete Streets Coalition Novato, California and Mound House, Nevada Washington, District of Columbia Kevin Purdy, Founder Dave Tyahla, Senior Government Affairs Manager Trailsnet.com National Recreation and Park Association Louisville, Colorado Ashburn, Virginia Joe McAndrew, Policy Director Deron Lovaas, State/Federal Policy & Practice Transportation for America Director, Urban Solutions Washington, District of Columbia Natural Resources Defense Council Washington, District of Columbia Jeffrey Levi, Executive Director Trust for America’s Health Bill Dossett, President Washington, District of Columbia North American Bike Share Association Austin, Texas Joel Pannell, Senior Legislative Representative Trust for Public Land John Leinen, Jr., Treasurer Washington, District of Columbia Partnership for the National Trails System Stillwater, Minnesota Carol Tyson United Spinal Association Tim Blumenthal, President Washington, District of Columbia PeopleForBikes Boulder, Colorado Kelly Morphy, Executive Director Walkable and Livable Communities Institute Michael Passo, Executive Director Port Townsend, W Professional Trailbuilders Association Bellingham, Washington Keith Laughlin, President Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Washington, District of Columbia Kevin Prentice, Head of Support & Business Development Ride with GPS Portland, Oregon Cass Isidro, Executive Director Safe Routes to School National Partnership Oakland, California Regional Organizations Cont’d. Eric Troyer, Editor and Publisher Interior Trails Quarterly Donald R. Hays, Jr., Vice-President Alaska Donald Hays Trail Contractor, Inc. CA, NV Robert A. Beane, President Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists Dennis Markatos-Soriano, Executive Director Arizona East Coast Greenway Alliance CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, Dave Snyder, Executive Director NC, PA, RI, SC, VA California Bicycle Coalition California Denis A. Laliberte, President Eastern Fat Tire Association Elizabeth Velten, State & National Policy Coordinator ME, MA, NH, RI, VT Charlotte Dickson, Senior Policy Director, Northern California Terry Eastin, Board Member California Center for Public Health Advocacy Mississippi River Trail California AR, IL, IA, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, TN, WI Dave Gould, President Albert LePage, Executive Director California Trails & Greenways Foundation National Coast Trail Association California CA, OR, WA Wendy Alfsen, Executive Director Philip Keyes, Executive Director California Walks New England Mountain Bike Association California CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT Ed Self, Executive Director Russell Hirschler, Executive Director Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Upper Valley Trails Alliance Colorado NH, VT James Wilson, Executive Director State Organizations Bike Delaware Delaware Blaine Smith, President of the Board of Directors Alaska Avalanche School Brent Buice, Executive Director Alaska Georgia Bikes Georgia Brooks Ludwig, Park Superintendent Alaska State Parks Tracie Sanchez, Chair Alaska Georgia Trail Summit Georgia Steve Cleary, Executive Director Alaska Trails Cynthia Gibson, Executive Director Alaska Idaho Walk Bike Alliance Idaho Stan Justice, President Interior Trails Preservation Coalition Ed Barsotti, Executive Director Fairbanks, Alaska League of Illinois Bicyclists Illinois State Organizations Cont’d. State Organizations Cont’d. Steve Buchtel, Executive Director Dick O’Brien, Chairperson Trails for Illinois Massachusetts Trails Conference Steering Illinois Committee Massachusetts Allyson P. Mitchell, Executive Director Greenways Foundation of Indiana Wendy Landman, Executive Director Indiana WalkBoston Massachusetts Kim Irwin, Executive Director Health by Design John Lindenmayer, Executive Director Indiana League of Michigan Bicyclists Michigan Shaunna Graf, Project Director Ohio River Greenway Commission Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director & CEO Indiana Michigan Municipal League Michigan Gina Poertner, President KanBikeWalk, Inc. Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director