Representative John Garamendi joined Representative Sam Liccardo and other Bay Area members of Congress in urging the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to increase federal investments in local active transportation infrastructure, according to a May 14 statement. The group includes Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Jared Huffman, Kevin Mullin, Lateefah Simon, Ro Khanna, Mark DeSaulnier, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Thompson, and Jimmy Panetta.
The delegation said stronger support is needed for programs such as the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside, and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program. These initiatives help communities build safer pedestrian walkways and bicycle routes while connecting neighborhoods to transit options.
“The Bay Area’s transportation network increasingly relies on non-motorized options like the San Francisco Bay Trail, which connects communities, parks, schools, and transit across more than 350 miles in nine counties and is planned to expand to 500 miles,” the Members wrote. They also said that “programs and funding dedicated to active transportation routes will help expand safe, reliable access to jobs, schools, and essential services.”
Currently there is not enough funding for green modes of travel such as walking or cycling trails. The Members called on committee leaders to make these investments a priority during this year’s surface transportation reauthorization bill discussions.
David Lewis of Save The Bay commented on the importance of these efforts: “These federal funding programs are critical to complete the Bay Trail and other trail networks around the region. We need to invest in healthy transportation options that connect more communities with nature, jobs, and critical services.”
John Garamendi has served in Congress representing California’s 8th District since 2009 after previously serving in both houses of California’s state legislature; he was born in Camp Blanding in 1945 and currently lives in Walnut Grove. He graduated from University of California Berkeley with a BA before earning another degree from Harvard University according to Wikipedia.
