What's Next on Federal Transportation Bill--Focus on FDOT

 BikeWalkLee has been working with its national partners (Transportation for America, Alliance for Biking and Walking, League of American Bicyclists, America Bikes, National Complete Streets Coalition, Safe Routes to School Partnership, Rails to Trails, etc.) to understand the new transportation bill, MAP-21, and the way forward.  Click here for Transportation for America's "Ten key things to know about the new transportation law".

 While we and our partners are very disappointed in the final bill, we know that the bill would have been much worse without our collective advocacy efforts. Our work now shifts to the States, as well as to starting now to plan for the next transportation bill in two years.

 It’s true that the transportation bill, MAP-21, slashed guaranteed funding for biking and walking, but we are still very much in the game.  Our national partners are committed to ensuring that states and local governments use every opportunity in the new law to increase the safety and convenience of biking and walking.

Together, we can maximize biking and walking investments — both under MAP-21’s new Transportation Alternatives program and under the larger core transportation and safety funds.

BikeWalkLee and other state and local advocacy groups in Florida expect FDOT to:

• Fully fund, staff, and implement the new Transportation Alternatives program. Specifically, FDOT should:
• Fully fund: Do not transfer any funds away from Transportation Alternatives or opt-out of the Recreational Trails program
• Fully staff: Preserve or increase staff support for Transportation Alternatives by maintaining state Safe Routes to School coordinators and bike/ped coordinators
• Fully implement: Promptly award Transportation Alternatives grants with participation of relevant stakeholders
• Fully maximize the FL’s investments in safe, accessible streets: utilize all MAP-21 funding programs — including HSIP, CMAQ, and STP — to include biking and walking in all transportation projects
• Fully spend remaining funds from the Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs

Our national partners are working on a suite of tools and resources to help us ensure that states and communities take full advantage of MAP-21.  We will alert you as these resources become available.