B&O Info Desk>News Updates>TEA Saved

Transportation Enhancement Funding Saved (September 2003) - On Thursday, September 4th, the House of Representatives voted to restore transportation Enhancement funding in the Transportation Appropriations bill for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2003. The final count for the Bi-partisan effort was 327 "aye's" and 90 "no's".

This vote preserved the largest source of federal funding for trails. This triumph comes after a long and pitched battle waged by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, League of American Bicyclists, Bikes Belong, and their partners to persuade Congressional members to invest in American communities by supporting local efforts to build safe places - such as rail-trails - for walking and riding bicycles.

This funding restoration ensures $600 million dollars in dedicated funding for this fiscal year and makes possible the continuation of projects such as the Monon, Cardinal Greenway system, the Cultural Trail and the B&O Trail. The opponents tried to remove Enhancement funding for this interim fiscal year bill which may have lead the way to remove Enhancement funding permanently over to the normal six-year transportation bill span.

The new transportation reauthorization proposal will spend about $247 billion in the next six-years. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA) continues the funding program known as ISTEA and TEA-21. Enhancements account for about 10% of the total proposal and are designated for trails, bicycle facilities, etc.

Indiana Congressional Delegation Voting to restore full funding for Transportation Enhancement for 2004:

YES: Visclosky, Chocola, Souder, Buyer, Pence (Cong. Pence signed the "Dear Colleague Letter encouraging others to vote in support), Carson, Hostettler, and Hill.

NO: Burton

With the support of your efforts Enhancement funding was included in the upcoming transportation bill

NEXT STEP: CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN and thank them for their Support. Note: In the case of Congressman Burton, please ask for his support in future bicycle issues. This is the first floor vote on Transportation Enhancements. There are many to follow in this appropriations and reauthorization process. Trail advocates must remain vigilant, as opponents of the program will take any opportunity in the current legislative session to undermine this important program.

According to Dan Grunig of Bicycle Colorado, "This victory not only restores $812 million in dedicated funding for 2004, it puts the bicycle and pedestrian community on strong footing for the bigger battle over the reauthorization of TEA-21, the 6-year transportation funding bill."