Trail Users Urged to Call Congress
Before September 4
In a surprise move, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted to eliminate funding for Transportation Enhancements (TE), the largest source of funding for trails and other bicycle/pedestrian facilities. The next step is a vote by the full House of Representatives, scheduled for Thursday morning, September 4. Trail users are asked to help to save Enhancements.

Thanks to TE, America's communities enjoy more than 17,000 small-scale, locally initiated transportation projects that promote health, safety, economic development and community pride. From rail-trails and sidewalks, to wildlife crossings and train station restorations, TE projects allow communities to make transportation investment decisions that greatly enhance their quality of life. Amazingly, we achieve all this at a cost of about one and a half cents per federal surface transportation dollar.

But the FY04 transportation appropriations bill (H.R. 2989) would eliminate all TE funding, while increasing highway spending by $4.5 billion more than the President even requested!

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is fighting back and finding supporters in Congress. Representives Tom Petri (R-WI), John Olver (D-MA), and others are leading a bipartisan effort to restore Enhancements when the bill reaches the House floor. On September 4, every vote will count!

Please take a moment on Tuesday or Wednesday and call your Representative in Washington, DC. Urge them to:

"Save Transportation Enhancements by voting for the Petri-Olver amendment to strike Section 114 from the transportation appropriations bill - H.R. 2989."

Congressional offices track phone calls from constituents--your call can make a difference. This is a crucial moment, but with your help, our vision of America's communities--networks of trails, walkable neighborhoods, children bicycling to school-- will win out. Thank you for your continued support!

To find your U.S. Representative, just enter your zip code at www.house.gov.