This e-mail is so hot off the presses I needed to wear gloves just to bring it to you. Apparently, because I let other people do the leg work for me (hehe), President Obama released his FY 12 budget which outlined a few changes in the transportation policy for the country. There are a bunch of intresting points and after the jump you can read the entire e-mail, but I just want to point out the biggest one for ABC in terms of getting funding for projects:
“[The budget] Creates a new livability program-$4.1 billion in 2012 and $28 billion over six years-to promote local control and for projects like multi-modal transportation hubs (where different forms of transportation converge) and streets that accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access.”
This is huge for future projects that we can do for Albany such as bike lanes and boulevards as well as signage for safe routs to schools and other projects that would make Albany a better place to bike.
“Earlier this week, President Obama released his FY 12 budget and included an outline for the six-year transportation re-authorization bill. Although there are still many policy and funding questions left unanswered, NYSTEA applauds many of the recommendations put forth by the administration.Here are a few highlights!
- Transit authorities (in urbanized areas of 200,000 or more in population) would be temporarily able to use formula funds to cover operating costs in limited circumstances.
- The Budget also includes $119 billion for transit programs over six-years, more than doubling the commitment to transit in the prior reauthorization.
- Creates a new livability program-$4.1 billion in 2012 and $28 billion over six years-to promote local control and for projects like multi-modal transportation hubs (where different forms of transportation converge) and streets that accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access.
- The Highway Trust Fund – the main funding source of the program – is renamed theTransportation Trust Fund (TTF)! An important policy as well as symbolic change.
NYSTEA will continue to work with our allies and members of Congress to ensure the federal bill advances many of these funding levels and principles, as well as furthers other civil rights and equity goals not mentioned in the budget.”
Albany Bicycle Coalition 