Take Action on the Federal Transportation Bill!

Dear Smart Growth Supporters,

It looks like the House and Senate are finally going to move on a transportation bill, yet we're hearing alarming news that the deals being cut may jeopardize the good provisions we have been fighting so hard for. 

Funding for bicycle/pedestrian programs, flexibility for transit operating assistance, and even basic protections for public engagement and environmental review under NEPA are all in jeopardy.  A deal must be struck this week, or else we will see yet another extension.

We need to call our Members of Congress, and let them know we need them to fight for these provisions.  Please call them today and express your concerns.

Sen. Chuck Schumer. Phone: (202) 224-6542, Fax: (202) 228-3027 (on conference committee)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: (202) 224-4451, Fax: (202) 228-0282

Rep. Steve Israel. Phone: (202) 225-3335, Fax: (202) 225-4669
Rep. Gary Ackerman. Phone: (202) 225-2601, Fax: (202) 225-1589
Rep. Peter King. Phone: (202) 225-7896, Fax: (202) 226-2279
Rep. Tim Bishop. Phone: (202) 225-3826, Fax: (202) 225-3143 (on conference committee)
Rep. Caroline McCarthy. Phone: (202) 225-5516, Fax: (202) 225-5758

Or simply call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121

Here is a script you can use for your call:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm calling from [PLACE]. I'm calling to ask [Senator/Representative NAME] to stand up for three important provisions in the transportation bill being negotiated right now:

1) Please preserve the Cardin-Cochran provisions and dedicated funding in MAP-21 that provides grants to communities to make walking and biking safer and prevent hundreds or thousands more pedestrian deaths. More than 3,500 pedestrians have died on New York roads in the last ten years - this small bit of money provided in the Senate bill could help save very real lives.

2) Please protect NEPA and the environmental review process from reckless streamlining, so that projects cannot steamroll over local communities without their input.  

3) Please ensure that our local public transportation systems are allowed to use some of their federal money to keep operating buses and trains during the recession. We need more affordable ways to get around during these hard times, not fewer. 

Then ask them to contact:
1) Sen. Barbara Boxer (Conference Committee Chair) to urge her to retain these provisions.
2) Members of Senate Leadership (Sens. Reid, Inouye, or Durbin) to ask them to urge Sen. Boxer to retain these provisions.

Your call is important to ensure that this transportation bill that is one that promotes safe and accessible communities for all.  Call them today!

Stay up to date with Vision Long Island and Transportation for America.