Dear Friend of Trails,
Your immediate action is needed to protect Transportation Enhancements (TE), your state’s leading source of trail funding.
Right now, your Governor is deciding which of your state’s transportation dollars to forfeit in response to a $3.47 billion national transportation budget cut mandated by Congress. Last year, in dealing with similar federal orders, states slashed their TE programs – by far the nation’s largest funding source for trails, walking, biking and historic preservation.
TE cuts in 2006 were six times greater than the previous fourteen years’ cuts combined. We lost over $600 million from the TE program.
TE has funded more than 10,000 trail projects since 1992 (including 1,200 rail-trails). Cuts not only impact future trails, they cripple existing trails dependent on TE funds.
Within 30 days, your Governor will decide how to apply this cut to your state's transportation budget. If not fairly allocated, this could be the end of programs that fund trails, walking and biking in your state. PLEASE ask your Governor to protect trail funding!
Learn more about this issue and how to TAKE ACTION by visiting the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s website at http://support.railstotrails.org/enhancements.
Please forward this message to your networks. Thank you for your help!
Pam Gluck, Executive Director
American Trails
530-547-2060
mailto:pam_gluck@americantrails.org
www.AmericanTrails.org
Note- KY is one of the few states that decided NOT to cut funding in the last couple of years (thanks Ernie!) Send an -e-mail to our governor thanking him for looking out for KY's best interests!
Most of the projects funded here in KY fall under the historic preservation/community enhancement heading. By far the largest funded project is the Louisville rehab of the old trolley barn down around 15th street if memory serves me correct, that will be converted into the African American Heritage Center.
