From WABA’s Greg Billing:

“Last week, we alerted our members and supporters in Maryland and Virginia about an amendment that was going to be introduced by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to eliminate the Transportation Alternatives Program from the federal transportation budget. This program is the largest source of federal funding for bike/ped projects (read more on the WABA blog). Hundreds of you emailed your state Senators and asked them to vote down the amendment. We have heard the amendment will probably not move forward. Thank you to those who responded to our alert. We will continue work with our federal partners and we will alert you if and when bike/ped funding is threatened again.”

Your efforts do make a difference!  Please stand by to make another effort as the battle moves to the House, where an attack on bike-ped funding is imminent.  Keep checking the Bikeleague site for updates.

The Paul Amendment has been stalled.

Just last year Congress passed a new transportation bill, MAP-21, that dismantled dedicated funding for biking and walking by combining Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails into one and cutting the funding by 30 percent. The saving grace was that the bill included a local control provision to ensure that mayors and communities could access to these dollars to support local transportation priorities.

Now Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky wants to wipe out what’s left.

Senator Paul has introduced an amendment to the Transportation Appropriations bill to prohibit any money from being used for Transportation Alternatives. Paul’s amendment would redirect that money towards bridge repair.

While we agree that repairing our bridges are important, both for safety and economic development reasons, so are our local economies. Dedicating the small amount of Transportation Alternatives funding to bridge repair couldn’t fix our country’s bridges in 50 years. And, taking that small amount of funding away would dangerously undermine efforts in our cities, towns and counties to provide safe and efficient transportation options for everyone. With rates of bicycling and walking fatalities on the rise, that is a trade we can’t afford to make.

Please contact your senators and ask them to save Transportation Alternatives—and the local control provisions that help build bikeable, walkable places—by voting NO on Amendment 1742.

The Senate hopes to finish this bill today or tomorrow. Act soon!

Accepting the $50,000 matching gift from Dominion are (l-r) Joe Elton, Va State Parks; Gov. Bob McDonnell; Johnny Finch, VA Association for Parks; Hunter Applewhite, Dominion Foundation; Stephen Ellsworth, Chesterfield County; Jim Beamer, Dominion.

Governor McDonnell Announces First Legacy Project of Richmond 2015 Bike Race

– Kicks-Off Fund Drive for World Class Richmond Region Ride Center; Dominion Foundation Donates $50,000 –

Study: Trail Improvements to Have Annual Economic Impact of $4.5 Million and Create 51 New Jobs

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell was joined today at Pocahontas State Park by leaders from Richmond City, Chesterfield County and Virginia’s bicycling community to announce that Dominion Resources has donated $50,000 toward development of the Richmond Region Ride Center, matching Virginia’s investment in the project. The Governor requested the state appropriation last session and it was approved by the General Assembly. The Dominion donation officially launches a fund drive to raise the remaining $700,000 needed for trail improvements to Pocahontas State Park.

Upon completion, Richmond will become the 12th site worldwide of an International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Ride Center. The center will focus on mountain biking trails in Pocahontas State Park and Richmond’s James River Park System and will serve as a key ongoing legacy project of the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships.

“Bringing the road championships to Richmond and Virginia is the result of outstanding regional and public-private cooperation,” said Governor McDonnell. “Dominion’s donation to this regional ride center, which will be a lasting legacy for this region, is the epitome of continuing that cooperative spirit. This internationally renowned event will highlight the Commonwealth’s beautiful landscapes and create jobs and economic development for the entire region.”

Read the rest of the press release.

See the video of Governor McDonnell’s speech below, followed by the transcript.

[continue reading…]

Gary Waugh writes:

At 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 9, at the amphitheater at Pocahontas State Park, Gov. Bob McDonnell will join representatives from Richmond and Chesterfield County government and members of the Richmond bicycling community to accept a major donation that will go toward the development of an IMBA Ride Center. The center will incorporate trails in the City of Richmond, primarily in the James River Park System, and at Pocahontas State Park. The donation matches $50,000 in state funding for the project. The event is also the kick-off of a larger fund raising effort. Organizers of the event are encouraging members of the Richmond bicycling community to come out in full gear to participate in a trail ride after the short ceremony.

Pocahontas State Park is located off of Beach Road in Chesterfield County at 10301 State Park Road. The park’s daily parking fee will be waived for everyone attending the event. Tell the contact station ranger upon your arrival at the state park.

Gary Waugh
Public Relations Manager
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

So Pocahontas State Perk, Chesterfield County, and Richmond will join just 11 other areas worldwide that have received IMBA’s Ride Center designation, including Park City Utah, Taupo in New Zealand, and Virginia’s own Harrisonburg. The Pocahontas Ride Center will be a legacy project of the Richmond 2015 World Cycling Championships, and is innovative as a public-private partnership.

Come join the festivities Tuesday afternoon at 2pm. Bring your bike and riding gear for a celebration ride afterward.