Dear [Your Elected Official],

An Illinois delegation led by Ride Illinois will be in Washington, D.C. on March 25 to meet with members of Congress to discuss several topics related to bicyclists, pedestrians, and vulnerable road users.

As a constituent, I urge you to support the legislation that the Illinois delegation will be discussing with you and/or your staff.

Ask #1: Transportation Reauthorization

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is the only formula transportation program that is designed to support local government priorities. It receives about 2% of the federal highway funding allocated to transportation. The proposal to combine TAP with other funding programs may dilute local governments’ access to this program.

• Please support transportation reauthorization that does not combine Transportation Alternatives with other programs.

Ask #2: Pass H.R. 2011: the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act

This bill gives states the flexibility to use Highway Safety Improvement Program funds as part of the local match for Transportation Alternatives programs that are safety projects. This will give local governments an avenue to fund safety projects identified in Safe Streets for All plans.

Rural and small communities have difficulty financing the 20% local match required by TA. If a project they apply for is an FHWA-proven safety countermeasure or has been identified in a certified safety plan, this bill would allow the state to help those communities build the project with HSIP funds.

• Please support H.R. 2011 to make communities of all sizes safer for biking and walking.

Ask #3: Maintain the Vulnerable Road User Special Rule

If a state’s VRU fatalities are 15% or more of the state’s total roadway fatalities, the VRU special rule requires that the state spend 15% or more of its HSIP dollars on VRU safety. Three years into implementation, every state that has qualified has easily met that requirement. Before the rule, on average, states were spending 4-5% of the HSIP on VRU safety, with many spending less than 1%. Since the rule came into effect, HSIP spending on VRU safety has increased 50%. Every state that qualifies has had no problem obligating 15% each year.

• Please support maintaining the VRU special rule

Ask #4: Pass H.R. 5452: the Safe Streets and Roads for All Reauthorization Act

Created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A) has been making communities safer for biking, walking, and driving. This bill will reauthorize and fund the SS4A program at $5 billion each year for fiscal years 2027-2031. Everyone deserves to get home safely, no matter how you choose to travel or how small or rural your community is.

• Please support H.R. 5452 to make streets and roads safer and to make communities stronger.