U.S. Senate Transportation Vote Holds Victory for Trails
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Helps Shield Program from Devastating Cuts
Washington, D.C. May 18, 2005—In a landslide victory, the U.S. Senate rejected Amendment 646 May 17, protecting Transportation Enhancements (TE) funding. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) rallied support for the TE program—the largest source of trail funding—by garnering support from trail enthusiasts across the nation.
Amendment 646, introduced by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), proposed to cut the $295 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill by $10.7 billion. To achieve this reduction, the amendment unfairly targeted some of the smaller, efficient programs that bring tangible benefits to America’s communities. The amendment included a $1.1 billion cut in Transportation Enhancements (TE), in addition to similarly distressing cuts to air quality and transit programs.
“The Transportation Enhancements program has resulted in more than 18,000 small-scale, locally initiated projects that promote transportation alternatives, health, safety, economic development and community quality of life,” said RTC President Keith Laughlin. “This vote clearly indicates that the program has widespread popularity across the country and across partisan lines.”
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy estimates that more than 3,000 bicycle, pedestrian and trail projects were likely saved when the full Senate rejected the Sessions Amendment in an 84-16 vote. RTC’s estimate, based on the $1.1 billion in jeopardy, was derived by calculating the average TE project cost by dividing the total amount of federal TE funding by the number of programmed projects since the inception of Transportation Enhancements in 1991. The transportation bill now heads to a conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate bills.
If you are interested in learning more about Transportation Enhancements or Rails-to-Trails Conservancy please visit their Web site at www.railtrails.org.