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  • Support Safe Routes for All (Yes on SB 395)

  • This week the Joint Transportation Commission will be hosting a hearing for the Safe Routes for All Act (SB 395). This bill builds on the historic "Bike Bill" passed fifty years ago to provide increased funding for pedestrian and bicycling improvements. ODOT's own estimates show that at the current rate of funding, it will take over 150 years to complete the Oregon Ped/Bike Master Plans.

    That is why The Street Trust worked with Sen. Prozanski to introduce the Safe Routes for All Act (SB 395), which includes:

    • Increased share of state highway funds invested in walking and biking from 1% to 5%
    • Expanding the requirement for investments in walking and biking to include road resurfacing projects
    • Exempting small projects where costs of walking and biking improvements would exceed 20% of the total project
    • Ensuring transparency through an annual report on the use of funds

    How can I support Safe Routes for All?


    1. Share your support to the Joint Transportation Committee!
    1A. If you live in the Multnomah or Lane County, please submit written testimony to the Joint Transportation Committee by March 5th at 8 AM via this link: bit.ly/SB395-submit

    1B. If you live OUTSIDE Multnomah or Lane county, please submit written testimony AND sign up to testify in-person on March 4th at 8AM via this link: bit.ly/SB395-signup. The Committee really needs to hear from folks outside of the "usual suspects" of Multnomah and Lane county!

    2. Share your support for SB 395 with your State Senator and Representative!
    You can find your representative's email here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html

    When writing testimony, we encourage you to share your story with the Committee. If you need inspiration, here's a prompt to get you started: Where do you need Safe Routes to? What are the barriers that prevent you and your family to having a Safe Route to there?

    For example: My family needs Safe Routes to the grocery store, but there are no sidewalks on my street and the crossings are too dangerous for us to bike or walk. Please pass SB 395 to provide more funding for safe infrastructure so my family and other families can have Safe Routes to grocery stores.

    Here's a letter that you are free to copy / paste and modify to your heart's content:

    Dear Members of the Joint Transportation Committee,

    Fifty years ago, Oregon led the nation in supporting safe access to biking and walking, enshrined in what was dubbed the "Bike Bill."

    Achieving that vision to provide safe routes demands increased investment as the Oregon Department of Transportation calculates it would take over 150 years to complete Oregon's Bike/Ped Master plans at current funding levels.

    Now is the time to pass the Safe Routes for All act (SB 395) and make good on our promises and achieve our vision for safer streets for all.

    <INSERT YOUR TESTIMONY HERE>

    SB 395 will provide:
    - Increased share of state highway funds invested in walking and biking from 1% to 5%
    - Expanding the requirement for investments in walking and biking to include road resurfacing projects
    - Exempt small projects where costs of walking and biking improvements would exceed 20% of the total project
    - Ensure transparency through an annual report on the use of funds

    Safe Routes for All will have clear benefits:
    - Increased safety for those walking and rolling
    - Equitable access to safe ways to walk and roll, including for BIPOC Communities, older adults, and students
    - Economic boost to our state and local economies
    - Reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions
    - Greater connectivity to Oregon's beautiful natural spaces

    Please vote YES on SB 395, and let's build Safe Routes for all Oregonians.

    Sincerely,
    <YOUR NAME>