A new bill in the House of Representatives would help communities across the country make streets safer and more convenient for everyone who uses them. Late yesterday, Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and David Joyce (R-OH) introduced the Safe Streets Act of 2015 (HR 2071), a bill which would require states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to adopt a Complete Streets policy.
Joining them is an impressive bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors, including Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Chris Gibson (R-NY), Tom Reed (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Steve Israel (D-NY), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Dina Titus (D-NV), John Lewis (D-GA), Andre Carson (D-IN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
“The Safe Streets Act would help everyone—kids, parents, and grandparents—get to places in their communities safely, no matter if they’re in a car or a bus or if they’re walking, using an assistive device, or riding a bike,” said Stefanie Seskin, Deputy Director of the National Complete Streets Coalition. “I thank the cosponsors of this bill for working to ensure federal investments routinely create safer streets for people all across the country.”
“This is a common sense effort that will make our roadways safer for everyone. It shouldn’t matter whether you are sitting in your car, riding your bike or walking to your destination—you should be able to get there safely,” Congressman Joyce said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation puts this on the road to becoming a reality.”
“With the number of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths and injuries we see each year, we must re-evaluate the transportation designs we have in place,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Complete Streets policies have been a major success at the local and state level, saving lives, easing congestion, fighting air pollution and creating forward-looking projects that provide lasting value.”
In the coming weeks Congress will debate this and several other transportation issues as the May 31 deadline for new transportation funding draws near. Your representative needs to hear from you that this is an issue you care about and support. Send a letter to your representative today. It only takes a minute and will make an enormous difference for communities working to build safe, convenient, walkable streets across the country.