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SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR U.S. SENATE CONTACTS: Dear Senator YOUR MEMBER’S NAME, I am a Texan voter and a cyclist/pedestrian/parent/teacher/member of BikeTexas/city transportation planner/parks official/etc (STATE ANY AND ALL RELEVANT AFFILIATIONS). Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements are very important to me because of the Texas obesity epidemic/I have been hit by a car/my roads are unsafe for my children/etc. (USE YOUR OWN WORDS) I urge you to support the following amendments to MAP-21:
I am very upset that MAP-21, as it was voted out of the Environment and Public Works Committee, fails to provide dedicated funding that we can count on to support trails, walking and bicycling. Through inclusion of expensive new eligible projects like roads, activities like routine maintenance of vegetation and compliance with regulatory requirements, the newly defined Transportation Enhancements (TE) program will no longer be used by my state transportation department to fund trails, walking and bicycling. These transportation opportunities are absolutely necessary for our communities–and our nation–to continue creating jobs, providing affordable transportation, bettering our energy security, improving health and safety, and more. As this bill is also about creating jobs, it is worth noting that a recent study by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials found that TE projects, like building trails, create more jobs per dollar than do highway projects like road resurfacing. Thank you for your continued service. |
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SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR U.S. CONGRESS CONTACTS: Dear Representative YOUR MEMBER’S NAME, I am a voter in your district and a cyclist/pedestrian/parent/teacher/member of BikeTexas/city transportation planner/parks official/etc (STATE ANY AND ALL RELEVANT AFFILIATIONS). Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements are very important to me because of the Texas obesity epidemic/I have been hit by a car/my roads are unsafe for my children/etc. (USE YOUR OWN WORDS) I urge you to support the Petri Amendment that preserves dedicated funding for walking and biking. Local Governments deserve a voice in transportation. The bipartisan Petri Amendment ensures that cities and counties have an opportunity to weigh in on transportation decisions. Construction projects get moving. The Petri Amendment kick-starts small, low-impact construction projects, providing transportation, economic, health, and safety benefits sooner. Active Transportation is a wise investment. Walking and Biking infrastructure is low-cost, creates more jobs per dollar than any other kind of highway spending, and is critical to economic development for main street America. Safety matters. Bicycle and pedestrian deaths make up 14% of all traffic fatalities, yet biking and walking receive less that 2% of funding. These programs provide funding for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make streets safer for all users. Thank you for your continued service. |
U.S. House – WHAT YOU CAN DO
The Petri Amendment preserves dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancementsand consolidates these programs into the Transportation Improvement Program.
Ask your Member of Congress:
Will you support the Petri Amendment to improve America’s transportation system?
Find your Member of Congress
* Identify yourself as a voter and a constituent
* Briefly state why these programs are important to you and why
* Make a specific, direct ask of support for these amendments
* Be polite, thank them for their service.
https://www.biketexas.org/en/get-involved/tips-on-writing-your-representative
This is a huge moment in the history of bike-friendly America. Many of BikeTexas’ partners at the federal level are quickly mobilizing:
