Federal Bike and Pedestrian Funding Safe for Now

Monday, 06 June 2011

BikeTexas is engaged in saving Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails programs from federal rescissions.  Each year, the federal government asks state transportation agencies to return unobligated funding. Rescissions are decided by the TxDOT Transportation Commission based on the advice of TxDOT staff and an outside rescission advisory committee.

In the past, TxDOT has disproportionately rescinded bicycle and pedestrian funding in comparison to rail and highway funding. As a result of objections by BikeTexas to Transportation Enhancements cuts in 2006, 2009 and 2010, BikeTexas’ Executive Director Robin Stallings was appointed to the rescission advisory committee in 2011. This year, the rescission committee seems likely to recommend that the TxDOT Commission return unobligated highway maintenance funding and preserve Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails.