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"
Izzatso May 04, 2011 11:50 AM
It's called making do with what you got. We're not swimming in available tax dollars. Sounds like the Fed contribution is plenty for existing projects. Maybe if the State transportation fund hadn't been raided......
Cheesehead May 04, 2011 11:54 AM
I read that gas/oil companies are profiting almost $400 million A DAY!!
Double WOW!!
gbptotallyrule May 04, 2011 11:58 AM
wigwam May 04, 2011 12:01 PM
guess i'll just have to start running everywhere
jorgegw May 04, 2011 12:04 PM
telling it like it is! May 04, 2011 12:05 PM
May 04, 2011 12:05 PM
4Real May 04, 2011 12:08 PM
NorthCent May 04, 2011 12:18 PM
"such a shame. riding a bike is a great way to stay in shape and save money with such high gas prices (http://www.jsonline.com/business/121156199.html)
guess i'll just have to start running everywhere"
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So....whether you run or ride your bike is dependent upon whether the state continues to allocate $5 million annually for bicycle-related improvements?
BigJim May 04, 2011 12:21 PM
Lots more money to be made from motor vehicles...(car dealers, gas
companies, road builders, repair shops, highway patrol, income tax, gas
tax, registration tax, insurance companies, parking lots...)
What's a little pollution? Highway injuries, death? I love to have the
most inefficient and expensive form of travel every invented!
only one apple left May 04, 2011 12:22 PM
Less than 0.08% of the overall transportation budget... that's right less than eight hundredths of one percent went to bike/ped "amenities". I think if the transportation budget is overburdened then this really is far from the cause of it. Every time we expand or build another road that adds to the burden, yet new road building and expansion projects seem to be rather popular right now (and I'm not refering to rebuilding existing roads in their existing form, that has to be done no matter what-hense the problem every new road you build has to get rebuilt in the future).
LostInTransit May 04, 2011 12:24 PM
BTW55 May 04, 2011 12:24 PM