Members of the Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Friday expressed their opposition to a proposal by House Republicans to take money from several state funds that support multimodal transportation initiatives. The text of their letter to House and Senate leadership follows--
Dear Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Leadership,
As citizen members of the Commonwealth’s Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PPAC), we are writing to you today to express our strong opposition to any proposal to divert funds from the Multimodal Transportation Fund, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) or any other transportation-related fund to balance the state’s budget.
These funds have been critical to enabling communities across the Commonwealth to make their streets, sidewalks, trails and other transportation connections more accessible and safer to a wide swath of your constituencies.
This budgetary action would mean fewer communities could build sidewalks, crosswalks, handicap ramps, bike lanes or other facilities, multi-purpose trails and other transportation connections.
For example, projects such as these would be impossible if the Assembly diverts these funds:
-- Multi-use trail improvements in and around Baldwin’s Elm Leaf Park (Allegheny Co.) to create a shared street loop that connects the park to the neighborhood and local elementary school, or
-- Chalfont ‘s (Bucks Co.) traffic calming project that included improved ADA ramps, bike lanes and a center island, install flashing beacons and school zone signage to help calm traffic and increase pedestrian safety would be impossible
-- Schuylkill River Trail projects in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties
-- Installation of crosswalk enhancements at an unsignalized midblock crossing of Lansdowne Avenue (Delaware Co.) to include curb extensions, Type F crosswalk, enhanced crossing signage and ADA curb ramps.
-- Construction of new pedestrian and bicycle facilities for Northwest Elementary School in Lebanon County.
-- Construct a new two lane local road from Chambers Road in York Township (York Co.) to an existing un-signalized intersection to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles.
These funds have been very effectively leveraged to garner federal funding and grants from private non-profit philanthropies. If not available, the loss of funding to communities throughout Pennsylvania would be magnified.
Diverting these funds will not resolve the budget imbalance problem that the Commonwealth currently faces. Further it will not provide a long term solution and harm the Commonwealth’s economic welfare.
Making communities safer and more accessible is good for all Pennsylvanians’ health, economic well-being and quality of life.
The purpose of PPAC is to advise and comment on all phases of cycling and pedestrian program activities being undertaken or financially assisted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and agencies of state government.
We heartily support the position of PennDOT on this proposal as expressed by Secretary Leslie Richards on September 7, 2017.
Our request to you is to reject any proposal to divert any of transportation or conservation funds from their originally dedicated purpose.
Sincerely yours,
Sarah Clark Stuart
Chair, Pedalcycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Executive Director, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
On behalf of citizen members of the PPAC-- Scott Bricker, Bike Pittsburgh; Frank Maguire, Pennsylvania Environmental Council; William Hoffman, , Cycling Safety Instructor; Ben Guthrie, PA Walks and Bikes; Fred Richter, Harrisburg Bicycle Club; Bradley Flamm, West Chester University; Laurie Ahlskog, Lancaster Co. Planning Commission; Farley Wright Governor's NW Regional Council on Aging; Julie Fitzpatrick, PA Downtown Center; and Chandra Kannan, citizen
Related Stories:
No comments :
Post a Comment