Transportation Alternatives: T.A. Magazine Article: City Freezes Bike/Ped Share of Clean Air Funds at 10%

January/February 1999, p.8

City Freezes Bike/Ped Share of Clean Air Funds at 10%

The Departments of Transportation and City Planning have colluded to deprive bicycle, pedestrian and traffic calming projects of access to tens of millions of dollars of Federal clean air funds. Over the next four years, transportation agencies in New York City will receive $320 million in Federal "Congestion Mitigation Air Quality"(CMAQ funds) or about 19% of the approximately $1.7 billion of transportation aid directed towards non-transit projects in the city.

Unfortunately,the DOT and City Planning have decided to give bicycle and pedestrian projects a paltry 10% of the City's CMAQ funds. Put another way, New York City has elected to use its scarce Federal clean air funds on dubious traffic flow and road capacity projects instead of desperately needed bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

In July 1998, T.A. and a host of leading environmental and civic groups called on the City and State to devote $204 million, or about 1.5% of total transportation spending in NYC, to bicycle and pedestrian projects over the six year course of TEA-21. (See July/August 1998 T.A. Magazine.) By freezing the bike/ped share of CMAQ at a tiny 10% or $32 million, the City has effectively rejected this modest and reasonable proposal.

During the 1990's, CMAQ funded the city's bicycle and pedestrian projects and greenway network. Unfortunately, the City has spent far more of the clean air funds on things like the enormously costly "System IV" computerized traffic signal project, which will consume more than $40 million just wiring The Bronx and Northern Manhattan. The choice by the DOT and City Planning to use clean air funds to promote motorized traffic flow over cycling and walking in a city in which more than half the people don't have cars speaks for itself.

Tell the Mayor's Office that freezing cyclists and pedestrians out of clean air funds is a bad move. Also, remind him that it's time he speak out clearly on a car-free trial period in Prospect Park

Write to:
Robert Grotell
Mayor's Transportation Office
52 Chambers St. Rm. 315
NY, NY 10007
Fax: (212) 788-2782

Urge City Council to hold oversight hearings about the City's failure to use Federal clean air funds to help cyclists and pedestrians.

Write to:
Peter Vallone
Majority Leader,
NYC City Council
City Hall
NY, NY 10007
Fax: (212) 788-7126

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