The CT legislature’s transportation committee will soon schedule a hearing to consider a bill to fund "safe routes to school" projects throughout the state.

Cities and towns have worked with the CT Bicycle Coalition over the last several years to plan sidewalk, traffic calming and bikeway improvements between residential neighborhoods and school sites. However, ConnDOT has provided little funding for identified improvements.

The bill, PHB 5687, would designate 15% of the federal "hazard elimination" funds ConnDOT receives from the FHWA for a safe routes to school funding program. A similar bill was introduced but not enacted last year.

The Bicycle Coalition has publicized the fact that pedestrian fatalities make up an average of 16% of all of our motor vehicle-related deaths in Connecticut, and argues that the bill would begin to redress a public safety issue that state government ignores.

The proposed legislation is supported by CT Safe Kids, CT Chapter of the American Planning Association and Transportation Choices Coalition of CT (of which the Tri-State Campaign is a member). It is sponsored by Rep. Tim O’Brien of New Britain and co-sponsored by Dep. Minority Leader Brian Flaherty.

More information on the effort is available at www.ctbike.org (follow the "programs" link).

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