Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

RE: Preserve the Transportation Enhancements program!

Dear Representative ,

The Transportation Enhancements (TE) program is the 10 percent of all Surface Transportation Funding that is set aside each year for bicycle, pedestrian, scenic and historic preservation projects. This is an extremely important portion of Surface Transportation Funding that helps preserve and improve quality of life for all Americans and reduce pollution and energy use by promoting cycling and walking.

H.R. 2989 would eliminate the Transportation Enhancements program, which would be a tremendous disservice to all Americans. I very strongly urge you to STRIKE SECTION 114 of H.R. 2989, the section that would eliminate the program. If this section is not removed, I urge you to oppose H.R. 2989.

The TE program was established in 1991 as a commitment by Congress to their constituents that a small percentage of their gas tax dollars would be targeted to small-scale, community-initiated, locally selected transportation projects. H.R. 2989 breaks that promise. The TE program has supported more than 16,000 local transportation projects in almost every county and Congressional District in the country. These projects have made American communities better places to live by inspiring community revitalization, creating safe places to walk and bicycle, restoring historic transportation infrastructure, and sparking hometown pride.

Congress created the TE program because state Departments of Transportation were simply not investing in projects supporting bicycling, walking, trails, historic preservation, and other "enhancements" to the transportation system. There is little to suggest that the State DOTs will be any more willing to do so now than they were 12 years ago - instead the money will likely be gobbled up by cost over-runs on massive highway projects. Proponents of the funding cut say revenues are falling and the economy is tight and therefore cuts must be made - but HR 2989 actually increases the transportation budget by $4.5 billion over the Administration's funding request. In addition to this increase, the Appropriations Committee is now proposing to take an additional $600 million and divert it to limitless and ever more expensive highway projects.

The TE program benefits all Americans and must be preserved. Please do whatever it takes to preserve full funding for the Transportation Enhancements program!