This information was posted on the VAcycling google group.  It is so important for everyone who rides on two wheels!

The Governor would like to flush bike/pedestrian transportation funds down the toilet. Literally.

Transportation Enhancement funds are a small pot of money dedicated primarily to advancing transportation alternatives (provided from USDOT/FHWA). Last year VDOT took a great step by reducing the eligible categories for funding and aiming the funds primarily at projects that a) provide true transportation alternatives, and b) place an emphasis on improving bike and pedestrian transportation. The intent is to truly start aiming the money at projects that aren’t just a recreational path from nowhere to nowhere.

That includes sidewalks, bike lanes, shared-use paths, traffic calming and streetscape projects. These are some of the only funds that many smaller localities (and some big ones) actually allocate to bike/ped improvements. The requests for the funds always vastly outstrip what is available, as a result a lot of projects take a long time to come to fruition.

Now Gov. McDonnell wants to use those funds to pay for reopening the rest stops. So in order to maintain a pointless campaign pledge he wants to use some of the minimal funds that are aimed at improving bike/ped conditions. It is partly being spun as enhancing tourism. Ironically, Rep. Cantor wants to completely eliminate TE funds nationally, but here in VA we are looking to pay for our toilets with them. So bike/ped money is literally facing the prospect of being flushed down the toilet.

TE money is distributed by a competitive grant application, but the Commonwealth Transportation Board has a lot of say over what gets funded. I suggest contacting your CTB member and any other elected official, especially local ones, to oppose this (if you are so inclined). CTB members are listed here: http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/members.asp

Here is a link to the Governor’s web page announcing this. See bullet #3.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=226