Critical vote TODAY on Bike and Pedestrian Improvements funding for DelDOT
1:05PM: UPDATE Committee increases state’s Transportation Enhancements program by 73% (votes to add $2.6 million in state money to $3.5M program). They also vote to add $0.25 million in state money to Bike and Pedestrian Improvements program. (This is on top of the $1.25 million in federal CMAQ money the committee voted about an hour ago for the Bike and Pedestrian Improvements program.)
12:45PM: UPDATE Committee considering proposals to add $2.6 million to Transportation Enhancements and $0.25 million to Bike and Pedestrian Improvements programs.
11:33AM: UPDATE Committee passes DelDOT project list that includes $1.25 million for Bike and Pedestrian Improvements.
Twelve Delaware General Assembly committee members will vote TODAY (Thursday) proposals to invest millions of dollars in Bike and Pedestrian Improvements and Transportation Enhancements programs by DelDOT.
Although there is considerably less funding at stake this year than last year (when the committee, at Governor Markell’s request, voted $11.25 million for Bike and Pedestrian Improvements by DelDOT), this will still be the most important vote for walking and cycling in Delaware in 2013.
If you have the ability to take off work to do so, please come to Dover to attend this hearing in person today and show your support to the committee for walking and cycling:
WHAT: Delaware General Assembly committee vote on DelDOT capital budget, including a line item for Bike and Pedestrian Improvements for DelDOT
WHEN: 10AM, Thursday (June 20) through afternoon (possibly into the evening)
WHERE: Joint Finance Hearing Room, Ground Floor, Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Avenue, Dover.
Conservative business dress (suit and tie for men; dresses, suits or nice slacks/shirts for women) is appropriate for Legislative Hall. But wear your bike pin (if you have one)!
The members of the committee who will be taking this critical vote today are:
• Senator Robert Venables*** (Chair, D-Laurel)
• Representative Quinn Johnson (co-chair, D-Middletown)
• Senator Colin Bonini (R-Dover)
• Senator Brian Bushweller (D-Dover)
• Senator David Sokola*** (D-Newark)
• Senator Bethany Hall-Long*** (D-Middletown)
• Senator Gerald Hocker*** (R-Bethany Beach)
• Representative Helene Keeley (D-Wilmington)
• Representative Michael Mulrooney (D-New Castle)
• Representative Mike Ramone*** (R-Middle Run Valley)
• Representative Dennis Williams (D-Wilmington)
• Representative Dave Wilson*** (R-Bridgeville)
*** Sens. Venables, Sokola, Hall-Long and Hocker, and Representatives Ramone and Wilson were all co-sponsors of Walkable Bikeable Delaware in 2011. All the other committee members also voted for Walkable Bikeable Delaware.
