The Complete Streets Act of 2009

Contact your member of Congress using our quick and easy form letter to show your support for making our streets safe and accessible to people of all ages and abilities. If your Senator or Representative has already signed on to the bill, you’ll be able to send a letter of thanks.

Senator Tom Harkin [IA] and Congresswoman Doris Matsui [CA-5] introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009 in March. The bills will ensure that all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users as well as children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities, are able to travel safely and conveniently on our streets.

In the Senate, we are proud to have Senator Carper [DE], Sen. Specter [PA], Sen. Leahy [VT], Sen. Sanders [VT], Sen. Begich [AK], Sen. Whitehouse [RI], Sen. Levin [MI], Sen. Nelson [FL], Sen. Klobuchar [MN], Sen. Cardin [MD], Sen. Durbin [IL], Sen. Gillibrand [NY], and Sen. Franken [MN] as cosponsors on S. 584. Fifty-nine Members of Congress have signed on to H.R. 1443 as cosponsors:

Track the status of the bill, read the full bill text and check on co-sponsors for the House bill (H.R. 1443) and Senate bill (S. 584).

In May 2009, Representative Matsui, joined by Representatives Carnahan [MO-3] and Sires [NJ-13], sent a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), urging incorporation of her complete streets legislation, H.R. 1443, in the 2009 transportation reauthorization bill the committee was drafting.

That same month, Representative Tauscher circulated a letter to representatives on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Eighteen representatives, including Rep. Tauscher, signed on to the letter, which requested committee leadership include complete streets as part of the transportation reauthorization bill. They are: Rep. Carnahan [MO-3], Rep. Sires [NJ-13], Rep. Baird [WA-3], Rep. Bishop [NY-1], Rep. Boswell [IA-3], Rep. Capuano [MA-8], Rep. Cohen [TN-9], Rep. Edwards [MD-4], Rep. Filner [CA-51], Rep. Hare [IL-17], Rep. Hirono [HI-2], Rep. Johnson  [TX-30], Rep. Lipinski [IL-3], Rep. McMahon [NY-13], Rep. Norton [DC], Rep. Perriello [VA-5], and Rep. Walz [MN-1].

Your help is needed to build support for the Complete Streets Act of 2009!

Here are five things you can do:

1. Write to your legislators now, using our easy online tool, urging them to sign on as cosponsors. If your legislators have already signed on to the bill, you’ll have the opportunity to send a thank you note instead.
2. Call your in-district office to set up a meeting with your Member of Congress or their staff. Use GovTrack to find contact information for your Senator or Representative and get tips for scheduling a meeting on our resources page.
3. Call your Member’s DC office and ask to speak to the staffer working on transportation.
4. Fax a letter to your member’s office.
5. Spread the word - tell others about this federal action and how their support will make an impact!

Check out our resources section for talking points, sample letters, and more information about the bills.

Other Bills We Support

The Livable Communities Act of 2010 (HR 4690/S 1619)
This bill creates the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities within HUD, and establishes the Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities. It also creates a grant program for comprehensive planning and a sustainability challenge grant program. Learn more and voice your support!

The Active Community Transportation Act (”The ACT Act”) (HR 4722)
The bill establishes a competitive grant program within the Department of Transportation, which provides concentrated funding for communities to create active transportation networks that provide safe and convenient access for pedestrians and bicyclists. Learn more and voice your support!

The Enhancing Livability for All Americans Act (HR 4287)
The bill creates the Office of Livability within the USDOT (inside the Office of the Secretary, an improvement over the Surface Transportation Authorization Act’s proposal). It also creates a competitive grant programs for transportation planning and for projects, disseminates best practices on complete streets and other areas, and authorizes $750 million a year. Learn more and voice your support!

The Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act (S 1156)
The new Safe Routes to School bill proposes to build on successes around the country and strengthen and expand the federal Safe Routes to School program. We need assistance from all Safe Routes to School supporters and advocates to ensure that this legislation is ultimately included in the next transportation bill. Learn more and voice your support!

The Safe Routes to High Schools Act (HR 4021)
The bill expands eligibility for Safe Routes to School funding to high schools. The current federal Safe Routes to School program created in 2005 through SAFETEA-LU is making it safer for more children to walk and bicycle to school all across the country. But, the current program is limited to elementary and middle schools (grades K-8). Learn more and voice your support!