Take a Minute to Ensure Good Federal Transportation Funding

Act Now! Deadline: January 27th

Friends and Advocates,

If changing transportation to work better in your community is an issue you care about, then act now to ensure good federal legislation – endorse the New Transportation Charter

The Surface Transportation Policy Project, a leader in the new vision of transportation since their innovative work in 1990 to get the revolutionary ISTEA, is nearing completion of their Blueprint for Reauthorization.

The nation's surface transportation law, TEA-21, will expire on September 30, 2003. This law governs how Highway Trust Fund money, mostly federal gas tax revenues, is spent - roughly $38 billion per year. The law both sets policy for how the money is spent, funding levels for spending categories such as National Highways, Surface transportation, Transit, CMAQ, Bridges, Enhancements, and Safety. About 5% of ISTEA and TEA-21 funds were earmarked for specific projects. Traditionally, the U.S. DOT prepares a proposal which is then significantly revamped by Congress. Thus the focus of STPP's TEA-21 renewal campaign will be on the three Congressional committees that will author the bill.

At least 60 Texas organizations participated in helping to develop this via surveys, going to a regional workshop in Denver, or just giving the staff feedback.

When this is completed they will send it with a letter that will list by state all organizations and individuals that have signed on as partners in the Alliance for a New Transportation Charter. To endorse this charter click here.

The closing date for endorsing is January 27^th. So go sign on now, this will not obligate you to do anything else, although you will get progress updates on this issue.

19 Texas organizations have already endorsed this Charter, we should have at least one endorser from each one of our Congressional Districts. To see who has signed up click here.

Please act now! Sign up and pass this along to others.