Transportation enhancements funding saved: NRPA helps to save vital recreation path program.

Thanks in part to NRPA's advocacy efforts, dedicated funding for the popular Transportation Enhancements (TE) program was restored by the House of Representatives early last month.

By a vote of 327-90, the House voted to undo the proposed elimination for the TE program, as approved for Fiscal Year 2004 by the House Appropriations Committee in July. Overwhelming support for the Transportation Enhancements poured into Congress from parks and recreation advocates, hiking and cycling enthusiasts, health groups, citizen organizations and many others after the Appropriations Committee had acted.

Transportation Enhancement grants to state and local communities are an integral part of the Surface Transportation Program, which funds many programs important to parks, recreation and communities. The 12 TE categories include more than $300 million per year for bicycle, pedestrian and rail trails, among others.

Representatives Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) and John Olver (D-Mass.) were joined by six other bipartisan co-sponsors in writing an amendment to the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill to strike language in Section 114 of the bill that would have stripped funding for all TE projects in FY 2004, which began Oct. 1.

NRPA played a pivotal role in gaining support for the Petri-Olver amendment. The citizen and professional members of NRPA did an outstanding job of mobilizing local, community-based support for the TE program. State affiliate executive directors and state association presidents played a central role in getting the word out. Staff of NRPA's Washington, D.C.-based public policy office spurred advocacy through action alerts and other work. Congressional staffers of House of Representatives members were deeply impressed by the extraordinary level of support from park and recreation advocates.

In testimony before the full House, member after member, both Republicans and Democrats, rose to speak of the true and lasting benefits of Transportation Enhancements in their communities and for their constituents. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) testified, "This is the single most popular federal aid program in the entire federal transportation program."

An extraordinary coalition of support mobilized for the Transportation Enhancements. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said, "Ever since the word about the cuts got out, I don't think a day has gone by that I have not received a call, a letter, a fax or an e-mail in support of the program."

NRPA members can take great pride in contributing to this successful outcome. Our advocacy in action led the fight to restore dedicated funds for 2004 and it will bode well for the coming multi-year reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act.

To use NRPA's online advocacy tool, go to http://gaO.org/nrpa.