Sounds like a busy day in the Senate! Please make the calls for this legislation and Complete Streets today!

Kathy

Safe Routes to School AB57 Needs Your Help Today

URGENT:  Ask for the Funding to be Restored

AB57 Safe Routes to School (Soto) needs your help today.  http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/state/4373/california/6255

The bill would have continued the State’s popular Safe Routes to School construction program at $24.25 million/year – which is what the state has been contributing for the past seven years. 

Unfortunately, last Thursday, the funding for the program was cut in Senate Appropriations.  We need you to call Senator Perata’s office and Senator Torlakson’s office to ask that the funding be restored on the Senate Floor.  This is urgent, otherwise there will be no additional funding for Safe Routes to School after the call for projects that will take place later this year.  Please make these phone calls ASAP or California will set a horrible national precedent.

• Call Senator Don Perata (President Pro Tem) at his Capitol office - (916) 651-4009

• Call Senator Tom Torlakson (Senate Appropriations Chairman) at his Capitol office - (916) 651-4007

Talking Points:

• I’m calling to urge Senator _______ to restore the $24.25 million in funding for AB57, Safe Routes to School.

• Caltrans’ recent 2007 study shows that the State’s Safe Routes to School program is working to increase walking and bicycling and decrease injuries and fatalities.  It’s popular, with more than five times the requests for each round of funding available.

• The bill author (Soto) and Assembly Transportation Chairman Nava worked with Caltrans to amend the bill before going to the Senate – Caltrans proposed the $24.25 million/year amount (the average of seven years of prior state funding) and the source of the funding through the State Highway Account

• More than 60 organizations are in support of this bill, and there is no opposition from organizations or government agencies.

• If the state does not approve of AB57, Safe Routes to School funding in California will end – the last known funding for Safe Routes to School (from both federal and state sources) will be out to bid next month.  California will set a national precedent in terms of what happens with this bill.  Let’s make it a good precedent that supports children’s health.