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"
BillOwl May 04, 2011 6:37 PM
schnealy May 04, 2011 6:51 PM
kimberlyluedke May 04, 2011 7:20 PM
ithacaan2 May 04, 2011 9:41 PM
therefore we should cut all funding for all roads
Greg F May 05, 2011 8:40 AM
develop the bike paths? this city is an embarrassment.
jessaleelee May 05, 2011 8:49 AM
less than 1/10 of 1% of the state transportation budget.
safe walking and biking?
not something the Republicans are willing to spend even .08% of OUR money on.
now .08% blood/alcohol level? THAT's something to spend money on! (achieving)
driving
and drunk driving
the only ways to get around WI
Greg F May 05, 2011 12:59 PM
glenglish May 10, 2011 9:26 AM
expenses! I am an avid bicyclist, I would love to see an expansion of
paths and greater access for cyclists in general but I also understand that
with a budget shortfall comes painful decisions. This is one of those, deal
with it!
adrefs May 12, 2011 12:59 PM
federal funding" exactly? Because he determined that the so called hi-
speed rail (it was never a hi-speed rail project by the way) project
would cost millions to build, millions more to sustain and not result in
the pipe-dream of job creation nor be used in any great numbers (just
like the rest of our mass transit system and existing rail) this indicates
he "despised" federal funding? Huh?
All that he's now doing is looking for non-vital programs that can safely
be cut from a bloated budget. Is that REALLY that difficult to
understand? Am I using too many big words?
adrefs May 12, 2011 1:05 PM
Your comments definitely were right on and hit dead-center!! Couldn't have said it better myself -- and I wish I had!
Keep using the big words! Somebody needs to educate the "I want it now -- but don't want to pay for it" clan!
Yankee Jim May 12, 2011 2:18 PM
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