T4America to Sen. Coburn: Cutting Bike/Ped Won’t Fix Oklahoma’s Problems

Although SAFETEA-LU doesn't expire for another two weeks, the FAA reauthorization expires in two days, and Reid said that if Coburn doesn't change course, "we cannot get to this bill prior to Friday when the FAA expires.”

But it appears Coburn hates Transportation Enhancement programs enough to cause such consequences. “If we’re going to extend the bill," he said, "then let’s let states use the money to repair bridges and highways, not build scenic and sound walls and make things look nice.”

Coburn and other TE opponents often deride the program as funding “beautification” (about 13 percent of TE funds) and “transportation museums” (1.5 percent). But bicycle and pedestrian programs constitute 57 percent of TE spending – real transportation programs that improve mobility with positive impacts on the environment and public health.

Coburn is unmoved. “We need to let the states decide how they repair the bridges and highways," he went on. "Instead of doing what we want them to do, we need to let the states do what they want to do.”

Transportation for America has news for Coburn: “Cutting enhancements is not going to fix Oklahoma's problems. And it's not the reason their bridges are in such poor shape.”

Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for most deficient bridges.

Here’s what T4America says:

As for the idea that no more bridges would fall into disrepair -- that's wishful thinking, especially with Coburn's counterparts in the House trying to slash transportation funds by a third.