[MassHistPres] Cuts to Transportation Enhancements in Federal Transportation bill FYI

[Sara Wermiel]

This is a communication from the AIA to its Historic Resources Committee
members concerning the House version of a transportation authorization bill
(see more, link below) that eliminates, among other programs, Transportation
Enhancements, funds from which have been used for historic preservation
projects.

http://blogs.planning.org/policy/2012/02/01/house-transportation-bill-would-
cut-enhancements-tiger-amtrak/

 

Sara E. Wermiel, PhD

History of technology/historic preservation consulting



Description: HRC


  _____  

Dear Historic Resources Committee Members:

We need your help in telling Congress not to eliminate support for historic
preservation.

The House will take up legislation very soon that would strip current law
provisions that enable states and communities to use a small portion of
their federal transportation dollars on so-called Transportation Enhancement
projects, such as preservation of historic transportation facilities,
rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, and the
preservation of abandoned railway corridors for use as pedestrian or bicycle
trails. Although the cost of this program is miniscule compared to the
entire federal transportation budget, its positive impact on economic
development, historic preservation, job creation and community development
is huge. 

The AIA was instrumental in the creation of the Transportation Enhancement
program in 1991, and the AIA joined with allied design professionals and
other organizations last fall to fight efforts in the Senate to eliminate
the program. 

Unfortunately, opponents of the program are continuing their campaign to end
it. When the bill was debated in committee two weeks ago, the AIA and its
allies worked to advance an amendment to restore these programs. Despite a
strong push, the amendment failed by just two votes.

When the bill comes to the House floor, Reps. Tom Petri (R-WI) and Earl
Blumenauer (D-OR) are planning to offer an amendment to restore most of the
Transportation Enhancement provisions. They have asked us to build support
for their effort.

Please take a few moments to contact your member of the House
<http://lyris.aia.org/t/1279748/9206529/20931/7/>  and ask him or her to
support the Petri-Blumenauer amendment to protect this important program.
You can find a sample message to your representative here
<http://lyris.aia.org/t/1279748/9206529/20931/8/> .

Please act today!

Sincerely,
Jean Carroon, FAIA, LEED

  _____  

 

 

 

	

 

 

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