In April, BikeTexas Executive Director Robin Stallings spoke to the TTC. Robin addressed agenda item 4B, the Unified Transportation Program (UTP), reminding the Commission that when the UTP is updated it’s also a good time to revisit the current status of bike and pedestrian facility funding in the state. To watch Robin’s remarks, click here: http://txdot.swagit.com/play/04302015-615, choose agenda item 4B, and skip to 16:00. A summary of Robin’s remarks is below.
- During 2001-2012, TxDOT transferred $165 million of bike/ped/trail funding to highway rest stops.
- Transportation Alternative Program or TAP is the name of the federal Bike/Ped/trail funding.
- $36 million per year of Bike/Ped/trail transfers have continued under the MAP-21 TAP program.
- $36 million is 100% of the flexible TAP funding.
- Texas receives less than 10% of federal TAP funding but accounts for over 30% of transfers nationally.
- Bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities in Texas have risen to 16%.
- Beginning with the passage of MAP-21, there has been an effort to save TAP funding for bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
- BikeTexas met with and wrote letters to TxDOT staff regarding utilizing TAP for bike/ped/trail facilities.
- The TxDOT BAC also requested the funds be saved.
- Over 500 emails and phone calls from citizens and elected officials from all over Texas have asked to save TAP funding.
- Twenty-one people have spoken or written letters in support of TAP, including city engineers; elected officials; civic leaders; doctors; university professors; parks professionals; and advocates, from Amarillo; Lubbock; Dallas; Paris; Nacodoches; Corpus Christi; Brownsville; San Antonio; San Marcos; Austin; El Paso; and many rural areas.
- Please leave the $36 million of TAP funds in TAP for bike/ped projects.
