This blog was updated at 10:58 am.
The long saga to get a federal transportation bill passed may be coming to an end, and the end is not pretty. Negotiators in the Senate and House have come to an agreement that undercuts many of the long fought changes in federal transportation policy over the past two decades.
Federal transportation bill could severely cut funding for biking and walking infrastructure.
Our delegation was fighting in the trenches to retain provisions in the bill, but we were not in the majority when it came to final votes. Here is a joint statement by America Bikes and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
Meanwhile, it looks like we will be asking our delegation to vote no on the final bill.
We are fortunate to live in the state of Oregon, where our current state funding policies will allow us to guide federal resources to active transportation. Not all funds come through the state, however, and transit may very well be hurt even more than bicycling. And without a robust transit system, the bicycle network is less accessible.
More to come over the next few days. You can read more at Streetsblog.org.
