A new bill in Congress would take steps to advance equity for bicyclists and pedestrians across racial and income groups, while boosting funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in low-income communities.
H.R. 3978 provides opportunities for low-income communities by:
- Creating a low-interest long-term loan program for communities to build biking and walking networks.
- Requiring 25% of the funding to be spent in low-income communities.
- Setting aside $11 million from the $1 billion dollar TIFIA loan program funded in MAP-21.
- Offering a new tool for mayors and local governments to finance needed transportation infrastructure.
- And doesn’t add any new costs to the transportation bill, or to the federal budget.
This bipartisan bill was introduced by Rep. Sires of New Jersey, and has cosponsors from Indiana and Florida. No representatives from Texas are currently cosponsors on this bill. Please contact your representative today and ask him or her to cosponsor H.R. 3978 to support biking and walking in all Texas communities. Please also email us atadvocacy@biketexas.org to let us know the response you receive.
