Simply how loopy is Washington, D.C. on transportation coverage proper now? Let me depend the methods.
USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy despatched a letter urging Congress to cease funding transit and bike lanes. Beforehand, USDOT despatched steering to the states saying it will not approve grant proposals that decreased auto capability, taking purpose at wider sidewalks and higher crosswalks.
USDOT additionally scrubbed from its web site “confirmed security countermeasures,” similar to decreased velocity limits, redesigning streets to sluggish automobiles, and automatic digicam enforcement. Analysis exhibits that these actions save lives, and USDOT endorsement helped persuade native jurisdictions to take motion. Now they’re getting the opposite message.
Why? As a result of something that impedes cars, in line with USDOT is “woke” or “DEI”. A USDOT spokesperson added this unhinged message: “This can be a frequent sense method regardless of the Left’s perception that everybody ought to experience a motorbike to their shoebox-sized condominium to eat crickets to realize a phony local weather agenda.”
It could be humorous, besides this animosity to anybody exterior a automobile is lethal. In 2024 alone, over 7,000 pedestrians have been killed on America’s roads. That represents a rise of 72% in pedestrian deaths since 2009.
It isn’t simply phrases. USDOT has been actively withholding grants. The New York Occasions simply reported that USDOT has not authorized a single main transit grant since taking workplace. Prior administrations of each events usually authorized such grants.
It isn’t simply transit. The Administration has already cancelled or withheld security grants if town or state mentions “fairness,” or if it consists of bike lanes. Let’s notice right here that we’re a pedestrian security group; including secure biking infrastructure separates bikes from pedestrians and is a part of holistic road design that improves pedestrian crossings and reduces auto speeds. That design technique is likely one of the confirmed security countermeasures eliminated by USDOT.
Administration monkey-wrenching of grants has additionally had a distinctly partisan taste, ignoring Congressional intent that each resident deserves equal therapy.
The Administration simply admitted in court docket pleadings that it withheld power grants primarily based on how a state voted. Equally, emergency declarations that launch federal funding are additionally primarily based on partisanship.
All of this has specific relevance as Congress considers the following reauthorization invoice. We oppose the invoice superior by way of a Home of Representatives committee for its substance: slicing transit, increasing highways, and eliminating packages that assist heal the injury of previous investments.
However we additionally ask, why would Congress move even a well-crafted compromise when USDOT has made clear it’ll do because it pleases? What would cease USDOT from merely funding solely what it needed and withholding funds we’d like for security, well being and accessibility?
We’re becoming a member of with our colleagues to inform Congress “Make no deal on transportation reauthorization till the present administration proves it may well comply with the regulation.”
The subsequent transportation reauthorization will final 5 years. Assist us unfold the phrase in order that we are able to get enduring federal transportation insurance policies and spending that enhance security and our communities.
