Thursday, June 17, 2010

Obama administration spends $1.2 billion on cycling and walking initiatives

Published: 11:36PM BST 16 Jun 2010

Spending on biking and walking projects rose from less than $600 million (£407 million) in 2008, according to the Federal Highway Administraion. Twenty years ago, the federal government was spending only $6 million a year on such projects.

The spending on biking and walking projects was scheduled to rise last year anyway, but the administration boosted it with $400 million in funds set aside under the economic recovery program.

The new focus on biking and walking represents a turnaround from the administration of President George W Bush. Mary Peters, transportation secretary under Bush, dismissed biking paths and trails as projects that "really are not transportation," saying they had no place in federal transportation policy.

In March, Mr Obama's transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, announced a policy "sea change" that gives biking and walking projects the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money.

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2 comments:

Motivestobuy.com said...

i guess they are getting us ready for the 8.00 gas prices that are coming shortly.

Delnorin said...

I try and be responsible and offer that best that I can for my family. If I take on a 25 minute commute I can offer them a far better house for $400 less a month. Suck up about $100 in gas and that's coming ahead $300 a month in savings.
Unless of course... gas triples in price. (sigh)
Can you imagine how business have to deal with this? I'm just dealing with one family having to compensate for fuel costs. This is going to get far worse than the great depression. That's going to seem like shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas.