News
Washington: Take Action for Safer Neighborhood Streets
January 18, 2013
By Bicycle Alliance of Washington
Take action for safer neighborhood streets: Send a reminder to your state legislators about their good, but unfinished, work from 2012.
Last year, the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously voted 96-0 in favor of the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill. After passing through the Senate Transportation Committee, this legislation ran out of time in the Senate.
Now we have a chance to give this important safety legislation a jump start in the State House of Representatives. It's one of the first bills to be heard in the 2013 session and legislators need to hear your voice now!
The Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill gives cities and towns the authority to create safer neighborhood streets by lowering speed limits on non-arterial streets to 20 miles per hour. As an added benefit it removes government red tape and cuts study costs currently required by the state.
Time is critical and we're having a hearing this Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the House Transportation Committee. Now we need to remind our state representatives of their essential and unanimous support for this legislation in 2011 and 2012 and that the time is now to support it again.
Your reminder to your elected officials is critical in making this happen. And it only requires two simple steps:
#1 – Enter your mailing address here app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder (choose Legislative, not Congressional) and follow the instructions on the site to reach a contact form for your state representatives (no need to contact your state senator right now).
#2 - Email each representative a note expressing your support of this important public safety legislation, HB 1045. We've included some model text for you to use—putting it in your own words will make it even better and more personal:
Dear Rep. _________,
I write to ask you to support the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill (HB 1045), which will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The bill passed out of the House unanimously in 2011 and 2012—this is the year to finish what the House began twice already.
I urge you to let your colleagues on the committee know that you’re hearing from your district in support of this important safety legislation. HB 1045 provides more local control, offers an additional safety tool for local governments, removes additional study costs and red tape currently required by the state, and encourages active living by offering cities and towns the chance to create safer and more livable streets. Most importantly, when used in conjunction with engineering and enforcement, lower speeds on non-arterial streets can save lives.
As a constituent and voter in your district I would greatly appreciate your yes vote on the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill (HB 1045) to make our hometown safer for everyone from kids to grandparents.
Sincerely,
[Your Name here]
Thank you for taking action!
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