Call your Senator today, tell them to vote yes for SB 1258!

From our blog:

Support equitable transportation funding in Ill.

 

On Wednesday, the Illinois Senate is expected to vote on legislation that would allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use state motor fuel tax revenue for transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects.

 

Please help the Active Trans get this bill passed by asking for support from your Illinois senator either today or tomorrow. If passed, this legislation will mark the first time motor fuel tax would fund healthy, sustainable transportation improvements.

 

In 2007, Illinois enacted a Complete Streets policy, which requires that all new road projects accommodate all road users. This bill will give IDOT the flexibility in funding to achieve the important goals of Complete Streets.

 

In addition, the bill will allow all local departments of transportation throughout the state—at the county, municipal and township level—the same authority to use motor fuel tax funding for active transportation improvements.

 

Greg Hinz, from Crain’s Chicago Business, recently posted an item on his blog about the bill.

 

Nationally, bike and pedestrian projects receive a paltry 1 percent of funds for transportation. Active Trans believes that departments of transportation throughout the state should have the option to spend motor fuel tax revenue on increasing active transportation options.

 

Call your state senator today or tomorrow and say, “Please vote yes on SB 1258!”

 

Active Trans also asks supporters to call the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Martin Sandoval (12th) at 217.782.5304 to say thank you for sponsoring SB 1258.

 

Read more about this proposed bill and the Active Transportation Alliance’s 2011 Legislative Agenda.

 

Thank you,

Dan Persky, Director of Education and Advocacy, Active Trans

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on April 12, 2011 at 7:21am

We're very close on this and need help tipping the scales in a couple of communities (below).

If you live in these communities, please call!

 

If you know someone who lives in these communities, please encourage them to call, we'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Crystal Lake

Westmont

Barrington

Sycamore

Burbank

Bloomindale

Lemont

 

Thanks much,

Ethan Spotts, Marketing & Communications, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 12, 2011 at 11:13am

Do you think there might be any blowback or negative PR consequences if this bill passes?  It's hard enough sometimes to argue with people who complain that us bikes don't pay our fair share and should have license fees and other taxes levied on us if we expect to "share the road."  I hope this doesn't end up giving us a black eye in the media.

 

What are the chances of this bill really passing?  Keep us posted.  

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on April 12, 2011 at 5:38pm
James, whenever advocacy comes up you make it clear that you want no part of it-- so when you refer to "us" above, who exactly are you including? How is it that "bikes" represent some sort of unified body with common interests when it suits your argument but not when there's progressive action on "our" behalf?
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 13, 2011 at 12:54am
I understand Howard.  You want me to shut up.  Typical.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on April 13, 2011 at 4:10am

There will most likely always be "blowback" when legislators make choices, especially on slightly controversial decisions.

 

What we're really asking for is that IDOT and local DOTs have the option to use these revenue for bike, walk and transit projects. They can certainly still use all of the money for road and bridge projects.

 

But, this option would give IDOT help to really enact Complete Streets (streets/roads designed for all users when possible) and local DOTS the option to use this money to help fund or partially fund a cool, innovative project like the bike lanes that are going down in Crystal Lake right now.

 

And, we are very close and got a lot of support yesterday (Kane County, RTA, CTA, Pace, City of Chicago).

 

But we still need calls from those communities listed, please spread the word, thank you!

 

Current blog/update here: http://www.activetrans.org/blog/dpersky/please-help-generate-calls-...

 

Ethan, with Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on April 13, 2011 at 4:36am
done! and thanks for including a link to look up our senator's info.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 13, 2011 at 5:11am

I'm not necessarily saying this is a bad idea -but was merely hoping that a dialog could be started about whether some things like this are wise or not.

 

There is blowback and there is blowback.  Every kid learns in school the term "no taxation without representation" -we fought a war with England over this and they threw a big "tea party" over the issue.  it seems that this issue has become an issue again in modern politics with a whole new wave of politicians rallying behind the "Tea Party" banner.

 

The entire house of representatives has been turned on its head and just about everything that Barack Obama has done in the past 2 years is threatened to being undone over this "Tea Party" concept.  I'm merely saying that perhaps pushing taxation on drivers and other fuel users to fund things that are outside the parview of any vehicle that uses such fuel arguably  falls in the "no taxation without representation" catagory and might not be a wise course of action.

 

But what does it matter anyhow. It's not like anyone has much of an individual voice.  The powers that be have decided to ram this legislation down the throats of taxpayers and i guess the real battle over whether it was a good idea or not will be fought out in the comments section of the Tribune and other local papers by angry taxpayers and history will show us after the next election if there was any blowback against bikes and bikers.  Such is life. 

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