Attention Bicyclists, Runners, Walkers and Rollerbladers
The race to reauthorize TEA-21 is nearing the finish line; this is an opportunity to make sure that your community - and the trails and greenways cause - emerge as winners.

From ISTEA in 1991 to TEA-21 in 1998, federal transportation laws have been increasingly helpful to the creation and improvement of trails across the country. In TEA-21, $3.6 billion was provided for Transportation Enhancements; many other programs such as Recreational Trails and CMAQ have also contributed to supporting trail projects and other bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

But TEA-21 expired in 2003 and has since limped along through a series of extensions. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has been working to protect the programs which have benefited trail users, while seeking even better provisions in the next six- year transportation law. The process has been long and difficult, but the end is in sight and there's hope on the horizon. Speaker Hastert (R-IL) has announced that an agreement was reached on funding levels for the bill that allows Senate and House conferees to wrap up TEA-21 reauthorization. The race is on to the finish line, now set for July 19.

The House and Senate each passed bills in the spring, and conferees from the two chambers are currently working out differences and crafting that final bill. Some programs, such as Transportation Enhancements, appear to be safe. Other programs, such as Recreational Trails, have considerable differences in funding levels between the two bills, while some important new initiatives, such as the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program, exist in one bill and not the other.

RTC wants Congress to adopt the "Best of Both Bills." Click here to VIEW the one-page Rails-to-Trails document that highlights the programs which have significant differences between the two bills.

The clock is ticking, and here's what you can do right now, while U.S. Representatives and Senators are home for a mid- summer recess:

--Read the one-page summary from the Rails-to-Trail Web site about the five programs at stake;
--Select one or more programs that you want to personally support;
--Contact your representative and your two senators by either:
--Calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121; or
--Finding local contact information at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov;
--Urge them to support your program for the good of your community.