In today's Wisconsin State Journal is the editorial below. This would be devastating to projects still in the works in Madison, Dane County, and across the state and country. We all know that money that "could" go to pedestrian and bicycle enhancement (optional to use it that way) WILL go to roads - probably the Marquette Interchange - that big sink hole for road money.
Almost every path, overpass or underpass you use to get from place to place or enjoy a nice ride was built with Enhancement money. And we are all waiting with baited breath fro such future projects as: Extention of the SW Path (Badger Trail) all the way to the IL state line. Yahara River Path Missing Link Starkweather Path Glacial Drumlin extention into Madison and how many more!!??? Write the State Journal and tell them what you think! Here's the editorial: http://www.madison.com/wisconsinstatejournal/opinion/54936.php Give states the authority to set road funds priority 2:24 PM 8/17/03 One of the best ways for Congress to ease the shortfall in budgets to repair roads and bridges is to grant states more authority to decide how they spend highway funds. Currently, 10 percent of all surface transportation program funds that the federal government sends the states is unavailable for road and bridge work because it must be used on "transportation enhancements," which range from bicycle and pedestrian trails to transportation museums and tourist centers. This fall Congress will consider a proposal to turn this mandate into an option, thus allowing states to decide their own priorities. If a state wants to use the money on bicycle paths and tourist centers, it may do so. But if a state decides roads and bridges are a higher priority, it may use the money for them instead. The proposal deserves to be passed. One of every four bridges in the United States is deficient, according to estimates. Tens of thousands of miles of road need widening, straightening or repair work. The backlog of needed road and bridge work is estimated at $325 billion. Wisconsin is estimated to have 2,601 structurally deficient or dangerous bridges and 3,962 miles of highways rated critical or inadequate. Yet money for highway and bridge work is tight and growing tighter. Gas tax revenues, which provide the federal highway funds, are not expected to keep up with road and bridge maintenance needs, let alone the need for new roadways and bridges. Wisconsin received $550 million in federal highway funds this year. That was the same as the year before and less than the state had expected. Removing the mandate that diverts 10 percent of surface transportation funds to "enhancements" won't solve the budget gap, but it will help. _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
