American Highway Users Alliance Says “Yes” on HR7

The American Highway Users Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization serving as the united voice of the transportation community focused exclusively on advancing public policies that improve roadway safety, expand freedom of mobility and increase highway system performance.  It represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products.

The American Highway Users Alliance support the House “highway bill” H.R. 7:

A tight vote is expected in the House for the 5-year highway bill. The House bill is a conservative approach to infrastructure investment. It prioritizes highway investments to focus on interstate commerce routes and improved safety. The bill reduces Washington red-tape, better aligns highway spending to highway user fees, reduces waste and diversion, increases States’ programming flexibility, and eliminates earmarks.   Tell Your Congressman to Vote “AYE” on H.R. 7.

From a walking and bicycling point of view, what is most notable about H.R. 7 is that it would eliminate the dedicated federal funding set-aside for walking and bicycling. If enacted by the Senate as well, this legislation would destroy the federal Transportation Enhancements program (“TE”) which, for the last 20 years, has been the main source (51%) of federal funding for walking and bicycling:

Bike Delaware contacted Rep. Carney for a statement on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (HR7):

Representative John Carney (Delaware): “Although I do not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am following the progress of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.  In December, I joined over one hundred of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in calling for a long-term reauthorization that’s fully paid for and funded at or above current levels.  I do not support the elimination of successful programs that would limit Delaware’s ability to improve and expand its infrastructure for all modes of transportation.  Strong pedestrian and bicycle networks improve Delawareans’ quality of life and provide a safe way for families to shift to other modes of travel for work, school, and recreation.  When these networks are well designed and utilized, we consume less gas, reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and enjoy healthier lifestyles.  No other state in the country is making a more ambitious effort to invest in walking and bicycling than Delaware with its First State Trails and Pathways Initiative.  Any surface transportation authorization should, at a bare minimum, provide Delaware with the flexibility to allocate federal transportation funds according to our priorities.”