UPDATE: Bike Funding Cut from TIGER

The next round of federal TIGER grants may EXCLUDE walking and bicycling.

This morning, the Transportation sub-committee of the powerful House Appropriations Committee debated its proposed funding for the Department of Transportation in 2015. The good news is they include the popular TIGER program — but for some inexplicable reason are proposing to disallow any funding for bike, pedestrian and transit projects as part of those grants.

The whole idea behind the TIGER program has been to encourage smart, multi-modal transportation projects that stimulate the economy at the local level — giving local governments the flexibility to invest in projects that make sense for them. Many of those projects have included significant bike/ped elements; some, like the Indianapolis Cultural Trail transportation project (pictured), have been focused on improving non-motorized transportation choices.

Don’t let the House Appropriators eliminate local control of these grants.

The subcommittee passed this budget this morning but the full committee will be meeting soon to debate this again.

We’ll be in touch and ask you to weigh in soon!