Smart Growth America

Transportation bill moving fast!

Congress is about to pour billions of dollars into transportation. But we can't just throw money at the problem the same way we have been - we need smart investments.

The U.S. hasn't had a vision for transportation policy in decades. We've been trying to build our way out of a congested and inefficient system with no accountability and no actual plan to link our roads, trains, buses, bikeways and pedestrian-friendly streets. But the new transportation bill released Monday needs to change all that.

Fill out the fields below to tell your member of Congress to ensure that our country's transportation investments strengthen our economy, our environment and our health.

June 19, 2013

Subject:

Dear Representative,

As your constituent and a supporter of Smart Growth America and the Transportation for America coalition, I’m writing to encourage you to support a serious overhaul of our federal transportation program. We cannot afford to wait to put a down payment on serious reforms that will help build a safe, clean, and smart transportation system. Chairman Oberstar's recently released transportation legislation incorporates many forward-thinking recommendations for building the safe, clean and smart transportation system our country desperately needs. With the Obama administration pressing for an 18-month transportation funding extension, the political battle is heating up. Please ensure that the following reforms are included in any new transportation legislation: * Federal transportation investments must be accompanied by national performance objectives and accountability measures, which will help us meet our nation’s broader economic, energy, equity, climate and health goals. A bill in the House, HR 2724, would establish these objectives, and deserves your support. * Transportation funding should address metropolitan and rural mobility, a chronic maintenance backlog, and the critical need to establish a National Transportation Strategic Plan before spending vast new sums or raising taxes. * States and metropolitan areas must connect their transportation planning with land use planning in order to ensure communities across the country are more livable, more affordable for all Americans and less reliant on carbon intensive transportation options. * Transportation reform should include funding and requirements for workforce development or green jobs, which are critical to making sure federal transportation investments can lift low-income workers out of poverty and provide job training for people who need it most. The final legislation must provide the American people with the increased transportation options they need to compete and thrive in the 21st Century. It is critical that Congress and the Administration work together to help America realize this vision in the days and months ahead. Sincerely,
We will add your signature from the information you provide.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Street*

Street 2

City*

State/Province*

Zip/Postal Code*

By clicking the button below, you are sending an urgent message to your representative and joining Smart Growth America AND Transportation for America. We will keep you updated with critical action alerts. You can unsubcribe at any time. Your privacy is important to us, so we won't sell or share your contact information with other organizations.