Representative Gemma, the sponsor of H5074 has agreed to request the bill be postponed to give us a bit more time to provide him with suggested modifications. We will let everyone know when there is a new hearing date.
Advocacy
Congressman Kennedy to Join Congressional Bike Caucus
As some of you may know, I had the opportunity to attend the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC a few weeks back. There were four participants from Rhode Island. As part of the summit, we spent a day on The Hill talking with our Sentors, Representatives, and their associated staff members. I will follow… read more
H5074 Scheduled to be Heard – March 24th!
The time is upon us… The 3-foot legislation is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Judiciary: House Bill No. 5074 BY Gemma, Flaherty, Ferri, Trillo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES AND OTHER VEHICLES — PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND RULES OF THE ROAD {LC98} 01/13/09 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary… read more
A Radical Thought
I don’t know about you, but I’m really concerned about the amount of money being given to various companies to bail them out as a result of their own failures. I’ll fully admit, I don’t understand the complete economic picture, but I’m willing to concede that having these big companies fail could have a significant… read more
Climate, energy debates must factor in transit policy
From today’s Energy & Environment Daily 03/20/2009 Josh Voorhees, E&E reporter Any congressional debate on climate change and energy independence must take into consideration the nation’s transportation systems, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said yesterday. “A discussion of climate change legislation and transportation reauthorization would be incomplete without examining transportation infrastructure policies and practices,” said Markey,… read more
DOT, HUD secretaries push transit-oriented development during approps hearing
From today’s Energy and Environment Daily (03/19/2009) Josh Voorhees, E&E reporter Creating “livable communities” by linking transportation planning with housing development is a top priority of the Obama administration, two of the president’s Cabinet members told lawmakers yesterday. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan told House appropriators of their… read more
CLEAN-TEA on the horizon?
From today’s ClimateWire MASS TRANSIT: Carrying more riders and getting less money, urban systems seek help (03/18/2009) Saqib Rahim, E&E reporter In two weeks, the van will stop coming. And at that point, Bren Pathenos doesn’t know how her son will get to work. Her son, 30-year-old William Jenkins, has cerebral palsy, a brain condition… read more
LaHood, lawmakers hype mass transit and sustainability
From Today’s Environment and Energy Daily (03/13/2009) Josh Voorhees, E&E reporter Increasing mass transit options around the country is a priority as the nation moves toward more sustainable transportation and land use, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told lawmakers yesterday. “To me, it is clear that our transportation system and the development it enables must be… read more
Oberstar says bike projects will be part of next authorization bill
From Energy & Environment Daily(03/12/2009) Phil Taylor, E&E reporter Cycling advocates and their allies in Congress are fighting to ensure that provisions for biking projects will be included in the next federal transportation authorization bill. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), a longtime supporter of bicyclists, has pledged to carve out provisions in the bill to provide… read more
Bicyclists press for stimulus cash, reauthorization projects
Our guys at the bike summit! Good job! From today’s Energy & Environment Daily: Phil Taylor, E&E reporter Hundreds of bicycling advocates at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., are lobbying lawmakers to support projects they say will help the environment, create jobs and improve public health. “We have an opportunity that is unparalleled,”… read more
Pawtucket I-95 bridge design revealed
The Providence Business News posted a recent article on the redesign plans for the Pawtucket I-95 bridge that’s caused so much trouble as of late. One paragraph in particular caught my attention: To avoid a “dark and dreary” atmosphere such as that pedestrians encounter beneath the existing bridge, he noted, the task force spent a… read more
… and it’s gone
RIDOT published their list of projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This list includes the following bike related projects: Westminster St. Streetscape from I-95 Service Road No. 7 to Olneyville Square/Manton Ave./Plainfield St. (1.3 miles), which includes sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, street trees and street lighting. (Providence) Repair sidewalks on… read more