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"
Obviously you have never seen Hwy 41 in winter or on a Sunday when people are heading south.
Yup. I'm sure you'd rather have more bike trails. But in the real world, people drive cars to get distances. Roads need to be maintained and upgraded to change with the road usages. That's the way it is.
puzzled May 04, 2011 12:55 PM
engineerchick May 04, 2011 12:58 PM
wigwam May 04, 2011 1:02 PM
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That's the way it is only because of narrow sighted people like Walker and those on the right. People drive cars because we continue to be literally forced into use of a vehicle because of a lack of rapid transit options. Other cities states with urban areas similar to the size of Milwaukee (Portland, Ore., Cleveland, OH, etc) have successfully invested in light rail systems. Portland is actually expanding it's lines. In addition, nobody seems to care that oil companies such as Exxon are making record quarterly profits while you and I pay $4.17 for a gallon of gas at the pump.
I know a ton of people who would chose NOT to drive a vehicle if we had other rapid transit options.
JsMom46 May 04, 2011 1:05 PM
wigwam May 04, 2011 1:06 PM
FYI, support of alternate transportation during all time highs for fuel is, well, kind of a smart, forward thinking thing to do...
Hopeful Wisconsin May 04, 2011 1:06 PM
@JSMom46, well put. @Jimtherepublican, spoken like the mouth-breathing, climate-change-denying, foil-hat-wearing racist birther ideologue you and your ilk have become (or have allowed to dominate the dialog of your formerly viable party). "Liberal causes?" What a riot. What about "lunatic causes" that do nothing but ensure the unworkable, unsustainable, backwards-looking status quo? This administration's hypocritical guile and its propensity to legislate via political payback simply know no bounds. So I expect nothing less than rewards for the oil companies, Payne & Dolan and anything stinking of Koch. Disgusting.
First, Payne & Dolan build the bike trails too, at least here in Milwaukee so I'm not sure what you're talking about. As to climate change or whatever your excuse if for the paths, trails, etc. then pay for them. Charge for bike licenses. You do for cars, truck, and even horse drawn carts in some communities. If you want the trails, pay for them yourselves or raise the money doing fund raisers. If as you seem to be defending, this is a huge boom to a community, then businesses should flood your coffers. I didn't understand why the county didn't sell the naming rights to the bike racks newly installed on the county buses. In a down economy, every penny counts.
jimtherepublican May 04, 2011 1:06 PM
"Hmmm, let's see what "luxury items" we can cut given your analogy. Let's start with the Governor's mansion. Why should we taxpayers pay for a house, utilities, maintenance, service staff, etc. How about a smaller, more efficient house? How about the car that's leased for the governor?"
Hypocrite. Are you going to claim you felt the same way when Doyle held the office?! Only if you're a liar too.
Cheesehead May 04, 2011 1:08 PM