May 12, 2005
Complete
Streets
Amendment Comes Up Short in
Senate Vote
First vote
ever on concept generates bipartisan support
A “Safe
and Complete Streets” amendment introduced by Senator Tom
Harkin (D-IA) was defeated in a floor vote, 53-44 in the US
Senate, on Wednesday May 11th during debate of the
reauthorization of the federal transportation bill. The
amendment would have required states and large Metropolitan
Planning Organizations to adopt policies to build ‘complete
streets’ that accommodate all road users, including bicyclists
and pedestrians.
The
America Bikes coalition generated hundreds of calls in support
of the amendment, and support was broad – during floor debate
Senator Harkin held up a placard with a list of organizations
that submitted letters in support (see below). The vote was a
milestone: it was the first time that the complete streets
concept was debated and voted on in either chamber of
Congress. Senators Kennedy, Obama, and Carper were
co-sponsors. The measure generated bi-partisan support, but was
unable to overcome the reluctance of Senators to go against the
majority leadership.
“We want
to thank all those who wrote letters and made calls on behalf of
complete streets,” says Andy Clarke, President of the America
Bikes Board and Executive Director of the League of American
Bicyclists. “We’re encouraged by the bipartisan support we
received and we expect this support will extend to the
bicycle-friendly measures that are already a part of the
transportation bills, including Safe Routes to School, the
Enhancements Program, and Fair Share for Safety.”
During
floor debate Senator Harkin emphasized that this measure would
ensure that transportation agencies integrate bicycle and
pedestrian planning up front. He listed the many benefits of
bicycling and walking, including improved health and reduced
congestion and pollution.
While Senator Bond (R-MO) was dismissive of the complete streets
amendment, he based his opposition in part on the inclusion in
the bill of many other bicycle - and pedestrian - friendly
provisions. You can read their remarks in the
Congressional Record, beginning midway down page S4921.
Click here and scroll down.
You can
see how your Senator voted by visiting the appropriate page in
the
Senate website.
The Senate
is set for final approval of its version of the bill; then the
House and Senate will convene a conference committee to work out
differences between the two bills.
Among the
organizations supporting the complete streets amendment:
-
AARP
-
America
Bikes
-
America
Walks
-
American
Heart Association
-
American
Planning Association
-
American
Public Health Association
-
American
Society of Landscape Architects
-
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
-
Natural
Resources Defense Council
-
Paralyzed
Veterans of
America
-
Surface
Transportation Policy Project
