Did you know that since 2013, the State of North Carolina’s Department of Transportation does not directly fund stand alone bicycle and pedestrian improvements, projects like creating sidewalks, new greenway trails, or bicycle lanes, projects that can significantly improve our infrastructure and communities to make our streets safer?
With the U.S. Congress’ passing of the Infrastructure Law (Yes! It’s a law now and not just a bill anymore), there is massive funding that is coming to our State that I think we should make use to improve our bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and bring our local communities closer.
If you also feel compelled by this cause, your fellow Board Member Joan Lyons has created a concise and easy to use template, and you can reach out to Zach Pierce in the Governor’s Office and let him know your opinion on how you think should be used to improve your local streets and communities.
This template can also be used to reach out and petition your state level representatives. Don’t know who your representatives are? You can search here (Find Your Legislators) by putting in your address.
Here is that mail template, and you can submit your feedback through the Governors website or by emailing zach.pierce@nc.gov
Subject: Repealing the NC Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects Funding Limitation
Hi Zach [or Representative **name**],
I hope you are well. [State who you are, and in case this template is used to reach out to your state level representatives, also state where you live so it relates to the representative]
I am reaching out to you today to provide my feedback on the Strategic Transportation Investments Law and Policy Limitation for Bicycle and Pedestrian infrastructure.
The STI law implemented through North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Strategic Prioritization Process and the development of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) does not currently fund Bicycle and Pedestrian infrastructure projects as stand alone projects.
This is a massive loss to our climate goals as a state. [INSERT YOUR THOUGHTS/PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. if you have a place you want to walk or bike to, share it here!]
Signed,
[Your name here]
If you’re interested in what I sent, mine is a bit more technical just because I’m somewhat of an amateur policy nerd, and it also give you additional insight into the policy that is limiting the funding:
Greeting Zach and Governor Cooper,
My outdoor-oriented friends and I were thrilled when the Governor announced that the year 2023 is the “North Carolina Year of the Trail.” We also encourage the Governor and his office to consider the year 2023 as the “North Carolina Year of Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding”.
As the Governor is surely aware, in 2013 NCGA passed into law the “Strategic Transportation Investments” (STI) (General Statute 136 Article 14B) which allowed the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to use funding efficiently and effectively to enhance infrastructure. Yet, within the law passed in 2013, there is this limitation:
G.S. 136-189.11 (d)(3c)
Bicycle and pedestrian limitation. – The Department shall not provide financial support for independent bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects, except for federal funds administered by the Department for that purpose. This sub-subdivision shall not apply to funds allocated to a municipality pursuant to G.S. 136-41.1 that are committed by the municipality as matching funds for federal funds administered by the Department and used for bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects.
My trail-loving friends and I think this limitation is counterintuitive to the spirit of the Governor’s proclamation in January this year. We recommend in addition to the Governor’s current budget recommendations for Transportation, that the Governor will also put in effort to repeal the language of limitation to Bicycle and Pedestrian project funding in the STI Law.
Furthermore, we recommend the Governor ensure the 2024-2033 STIP Development and the new Strategic Prioritization implement stand alone Bicycle and Pedestrian project funding.
Thank you Zach, and the Governor, for taking your time to hear and read my petition today.