Action Alert: Take the Next Step to Invest in Our Children

The Senate and House transportation revenue package proposals each take important steps to investing in biking and walking connections across the state. Still more work can be done to take the next step to invest in locally driven school safety projects that make kids safe and healthy. Send your legislators a note of thanks that also reminds them work remains to take the next step to invest in our children.

Every child in Washington state deserves the chance to safely walk and bike to their school – it’s something an overwhelming number of Washington voters agree with. Recent surveys tell us what we already know – investing in safe walking and biking remains a priority across the state.

For over two months House and Senate transportation leaders have worked to craft new revenue proposals that include critical safe biking and walking investments. In February, the Senate proposal took an important step in recognizing the value of Safe Routes to Schools and Biking and Walking Safety grant programs by including them in their proposal. And on Tuesday night, the House Transportation Committee voted for a proposal that takes a great step forward in increasing funding in safe biking and walking connections across the state.

Let’s give these kids healthy & safe routes to school!

The most recent proposal connects gaps in some of our biggest cities, including Tacoma, Spokane and Seattle, as well as smaller cities including Anacortes, Milton, and University Place. It recognizes that state walking and biking connections are critical by establishing a $100 million project fund. It also adds more investments, notably to a grant program that improves biking and walking safety. These walking and biking investments represent an approximately $236 million foundation over a 16-year timeframe.

These increases are important and worth supporting. Still, more can still be done to invest in the state’s Safe Routes to School grant program. Currently only 1 in 4 projects are getting funded. With a modest increase from the proposal at hand, we can enable more locally-driven school safety projects to reach completion. These school district and local jurisdiction-led projects make infrastructure and educational improvements that make kids safe and healthy.

We think it’s possible.

Now it’s your time to thank legislators and ask them to support the House proposal’s investment levels for biking and walking, and to remind the legislature that their work is not done. We are so close to making more school safety projects a reality.

Take 30 seconds today to send the below letter to thank your state legislators and remind them that every child in Washington state deserves the chance to safely bike and walk to school. Let’s take that next step to invest in our children.

Send the letter today!