Budget panel cuts $5 million for bike/pedestrian projects
Backing Gov. Scott Walker, the Republican majority on the Joint Finance Committee has voted to eliminate $5 million in state support for bicycle and pedestrian paths from the 2011-'13 transportation budget.
Based on the vote 12-4 vote on Tuesday, state support for transportation enhancements from gas tax and related revenue appears to be short-lived, lasting only one budget, 2009-'11.
According to the Department of Administration, money is limited in the $6.4 billion transportation budget, and the elimination of the spending for improvements to bike paths and pedestrian amenities reduces the overall spending.
Most of the money the state spends on improvements for non-motorized transportation comes from federal funds.
The governor's budget projects that the feds will provide nearly $18 million through the transportation enhancements and bike and pedestrian programs over the next two fiscal years. Another $23 million will be available in congestion mitigation grants, which may be used for bike projects.
Kevin Hardman, executive director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, said the action by the Joint Finance Committee cuts a valuable investment.
The state money helps municipalities design biking and pedestrian networks, and to make them more usable.
“What suffers when we don’t make those investments is our economic development, and connecting tourist aspects, for communities up north,” he said. “It compromises our health.
“Bicycling is a choice people make to get around and burn calories. What it compromises is our own competitiveness in attracting people to our state, for tourism and a work force.”
Convincing legislators to reinstate the state dollars for bike and pedestrian projects remains the No. 1 lobbying priority for the Bike Fed, according to Hardman.
“What I am being reminded of is that the perception still exists that bicycling is somehow outside of our transportation system or a nice thing to have,” Hardman said. “We’re working aggressively to change that perception. Bikes are legal vehicles on our roadway and should be accommodated in our transportation system.”
Oak Leaf to Interurban: Federal grant dollars have been used to make improvements to the Oak Leaf and Interurban trails in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties. In his Over the Bars in Milwaukee blog, Dave Schlabowske covers plans to link the two paths with an off-road connection.
162 Comments for "Budget panel cuts $5 million for bike/pedestrian projects"
"I do quite a bit of travel on business and in cities with good systems, almost NEVER rent a car or take a cab or experience what you are describing."
---------------------
Then you're an obvious exception the rule....and quite lucky.
I spent the better part of two decades traveling on business -- 1.5 million miles on United Airlines alone, most of which was domestic -- and even though I prefered public transportation (mainly trains) and would use it whenever I could, the vast majority of time I needed to rent a car to get where I was going, even in cities with good PT systems.
Take Chicago, for example.
The notion that you can get where you're going in Chicago by taking the train (Metra/CTA) is largely a myth. Sure, you can get where you're going if you're going downtown, but the vast, vast, vast majority of businesses, manufacturing facilites, educational institutions etc are not downtown....and the closest Metra stop might be five miles away.
The only way you do that by train (or even bus) is if your time is not worth anything and have all day to get where you're going.
BigJim May 04, 2011 2:15 PM
Enjoy your ride! Just remember to obey all traffic signs/laws.
Have to go water my horse...
puzzled May 04, 2011 2:16 PM
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 2:17 PM
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 2:18 PM
an entirely homogeneous mess of unhappy, highly-taxed socialists -- Fox
news told them so. There's no need for cultural or intellectual curiosity for
many of these folks to see for themselves, if they're going to take a trip
somewhere, it'll be Orlando or Las Vegas, thankyouverymuch. Though plane
seats are getting uncomfortable, so a weekend in The Dells is also nice.
They have a great buffet.
madcoca May 04, 2011 2:21 PM
1. The check is in the mail
2. I will respect you in the morning
3. We are broke
The only thing broke is our priorities
BTW55 May 04, 2011 2:22 PM
One more thought...
Polls. That's what polls are for. To see if the proverbial "horse" will drink. And those polls show they won't or at the very least there is not the type of support that would warrant spending the type of dollars it would cost. I am not willing to be taxed to death to take that chance. Sorry.
OK. Now I have to go water the horse...
puzzled May 04, 2011 2:22 PM
I've spent quite a bit of time in Europe myself, and yeah, it is different.
Not sure I'd classify it as "better", though. Just different.
Depends what you're after. (In my case, I'm willing to trade a longer commute for open space, a larger house, etc.)
Then again, most European population centers were established before the United States even existed....and when "planning for the future of transportation" meant finding more places to park your horse.
BigJim May 04, 2011 2:23 PM
--------------
Then we're even, because I don't want to subsidize your lifestyle, either, especially if you're narcissistic enough to claim yours is better than mine.
BigJim May 04, 2011 2:35 PM
It is really unfortunate-encouraging walking and riding would be a fabulous way to encourage people to be more active. People are driving less and less miles on Wisconsin roads each year-we need to be forward-thinking here.
Solace May 04, 2011 2:39 PM
Another thing, you libs spent all our money on other hairbrain ideas.
Overtaxed1950 May 04, 2011 2:57 PM
...and Buses? We don't need no stinking buses !!!
Thanks Snotty
2nicks May 04, 2011 3:03 PM
It is really unfortunate-encouraging walking and riding would be a fabulous way to encourage people to be more active. People are driving less and less miles on Wisconsin roads each year-we need to be forward-thinking here.
==================================================
Riiiiiiiiight. If you think that's goint to happen you're kidding yourself. I live where I do because I don't want to look out my kitchen window and into my neighbor's. That doesn't make me bad for the environment, it just mans I'm willing to drive to work, which actually stinks right now with the price of gas being what it is. But that is MY choice. If you choose to live in the city, that's fine for you.
It gets me so confused that those who are liberal claim to the most compassionate and open-minded. From the looks of some of these posts, I think not.
Cut spending, cut spending. Just not HERE. Or HERE.
TheresS May 04, 2011 3:06 PM
Apparently none of his campaign contributors would have made a profit from this.
umgopher1 May 04, 2011 3:07 PM