Webinar – The Good, the Bad and the Unknown: What the House Reauthorization Bill Means for Connected Trail and Active Transportation Systems
In May, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee took the first step towards passing a new federal transportation law when it announced a bipartisan agreement entitled the BUILD America 250 Act – Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act.
While the bill continues legacy active transportation programs, it fails to prioritize the infrastructure needed to make walking and biking connected, safe and more functional, primarily by repealing the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP).
During this webinar, RTC staff explained what was included, what was cut, and the actions needed to ensure funding and policy for connected walking, biking and trail infrastructure is prioritized in future iterations of the bill.
Resources
Read our reauthorization agenda: https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/reauthorization/
You can find RTC’s analysis of the bill in our press release: https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/build-america-250-act-poses-challenges-for-americas-active-transportation-future/ and blog: https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/congress-takes-first-step-on-new-transportation-law/
You can find the official press release from the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure as well as the full text and the section-by-section summary of the “BUILD America 250 Act” here: https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=409495
Learn more about the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program here: https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/transportation-alternatives/
Did you know RTC’s Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange (TrADE) tracks TA spending for tens of thousands of projects? Click here to view annual trends and learn more about the impact TA has had nationwide: https://www.railstotrails.org/site/trade/
Learn more about the Recreational Trails Program (RTP): https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/recreational-trails-program/
Find out more about the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP): https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/funding/atiip/
You can find members of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee here: https://transportation.house.gov/about/membership.htm and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee here: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/members
View the joint federal funding sign on letter to Congress: https://www.railstotrails.org/resource-library/resources/federal-funding-letter-nationwide-demand-for-biking-and-walking-investment/
View RTC’s ATIIP support sign on letter to Congress: https://www.railstotrails.org/resource-library/resources/active-transportation-infrastructure-investment-program-atiip-letter-to-congress/
RTC’s TrailNation Collaborative, Trail Development and Policy teams produce a free webinar series designed to help trail professionals build, grow, manage, maintain, promote or otherwise support trails and trail networks. Sign up here to get webinar alerts.
Have a comment or question on our webinar series? Contact us below with topic or speaker ideas. We appreciate your feedback! Email us.
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