The lack of coherent transporation policy has lead to increasing traffic accidents, growing congestion, and crumbling roads and bridges across the country. (photo Flickr.com/generated)

The U.S. hasn't had a clear vision for transportation policy in decades. We've been blindly throwing money at a congested and inefficient system with no accountability and no actual plan to link our roads, trains, buses, bikeways and pedestrian-friendly streets. But the new transportation bill released this week could change all that.

With this bill, Congress needs to decide if it is going to keep simply building more polluting highways, or if it's going to promote smart investments that provide more choices for better-connected, cleaner, more livable communities.

Send the letter below to tell your member of Congress that our country's transportation investments need to strengthen our economy, protect our environment and improve our public health.

Please feel free to add your personal thoughts and reflections; it will make your letter much more effective.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As your constituent, I'm writing to encourage you to support a serious overhaul of our federal transportation program. We cannot afford to wait to enact serious reforms that will help build a safe, clean, and smart transportation system.

Chairman Oberstar's proposed transportation legislation incorporates many forward-thinking recommendations for building the transportation system our country desperately needs.

With the Obama administration pressing for an 18-month transportation funding extension, the political battle is heating up. Please ensure that the following reforms are included in any new transportation legislation:

- Federal transportation investments must be accompanied by national performance objectives and accountability measures, which will help us meet our nation's broader economic, energy, equity, climate and health goals. A bill in the House, HR 2724, would establish these objectives, and deserves your support.

- Transportation funding should address metropolitan and rural mobility, a chronic maintenance backlog, and the critical need to establish a National Transportation Strategic Plan before spending vast new sums or raising taxes.

- States and metropolitan areas must connect their transportation planning with land use planning in order to ensure communities across the country are more livable, more affordable for all Americans and less reliant on carbon intensive transportation options.

- Transportation reform should include funding and requirements for workforce development or green jobs, which are critical to making sure federal transportation investments can lift low-income workers out of poverty and provide job training for people who need it most.

The final legislation must provide the American people with the increased transportation options they need to compete and thrive in the 21st Century. It is critical that Congress and the Administration work together to help America realize this vision in the days and months ahead.

Thank you,

Campaign Launched:
June 22, 2009