CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW TO SUPPORT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL

[John Boyle]

Action alert from America Bikes 1-20-04 CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW TO SUPPORT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL In early February 2004, the US Senate is scheduled to vote on the new transportation bill. The bill currently contains language creating a national Safe Routes to School program, providing money to communities for infrastructure and education projects. But there's a move afoot in the Senate to strip the program from the bill entirely. Please call both your US Senators today. Say this: "Please support Safe Routes to School in SAFETEA, S 1072, and fully fund the program at $250 million a year." The Senate bill calls for only $70 million a year for Safe Routes, while the House bill calls for $250 million a year. Under the Senate funding level, some states would not receive enough funding to make more than a few infrastructure improvements, let alone develop a comprehensive program. $70 million would build an average of 9 miles of sidewalk in each state. And consider there are 90,000 schools in the US. (You can see how little your state would get at www.americabikes.org/saferoutestoschool.asp, click on "Senate spending chart." S1072, SAFETEA, is the Senate's version of the six year reauthorization of TEA-21. Most of the $255 billion in the bill goes to states for highway construction, a bit goes to programs like Transportation Enhancements. The inclusion of a new Safe Routes to School program is an  exciting development, but some who would build only highways are trying to eliminate it. The full Senate is currently scheduled to vote on the bill in the first week of February. Senators need to hear that their constituents want Safe Routes to School. Call before January 30th, 2004. America Bikes has a lot of additional information at http://www.americabikes.org/saferoutestoschool.asp. Click on "contact your legislators" at the top for contact info for your Senators "If we ever play another softball game together I'm going to drive the ball through his head. He plays third base but he better play outfield because he won't survive the game." Micheal Bolton 10-8-02 Bucks County Courier Times discussing his feelings toward Conan O'Brien