Gov. Jay Inslee is reportedly considering enacting a stiff clean fuels rule that, if enacted, would wipe out millions of dollars headed to bicycling, pedestrian and transit investments as part of the transportation budget approved by the Legislature.

The re-directed money would instead go to spending on highways as part of a "poison pill" agreement Inslee signed onto with Republicans to get transportation spending approved.

Now it appears he's ready to swallow that pill in order to enact his low-carbon fuel standard. If he does, millions will be pulled from the Spokane area. Notably, the $8 million headed toward the University District Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge will be lost. 

Here's a Seattle Times article on the subject, subscription required.

Advocacy organizations are sounding the alarms on Inslee's consideration of the poison pill. The Seattle Bike Blog has a post titled, "Gov. Inslee tries to save face on climate change by spending bike/walk money on highways." The Seattle Transit Blog has one called, "Is Gov. Inslee Getting Ready to Swallow the Poison Pill?"

Washington Bikes, the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership and other advocacy organizations are encouraging supporters to write to Inslee with their concerns.

From Washington Bikes:

Over the past six months, thousands of caring Washingtonians like you have asked state leaders in Olympia to make bold investments in our transportation future by making it safer and easier to bike and walk.

Our leaders listened, but now Governor Inslee threatens to take away this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build bikeways and safer sidewalks for Washingtonians.

Just a few days ago, Washingtonians were told historic investments had been made in creating safe streets, new sidewalks and bike pathways for our school kids and communities. Now they’re being told those investments could be wiped away through a potential action by the Governor on a low carbon fuel standard. There doesn’t have to be a choice between safer and healthier communities and climate change – Governor Inslee knows he has other avenues to implement his climate change agenda. This isn’t it.

According to the Seattle Times, Governor Inslee is considering eliminating all our hard-won future state investments for Safe Routes to School, as well as $235 million for biking improvements statewide.

All told, almost $2 billion in special needs transit, rural transit, King County transit, environmental improvements, and walking and biking are on the line.

We don’t need to trade the safety of our kids at schools, special needs transit, and critical biking connections for lasting action on climate change – we can have both. This is a false choice driven by politics in Olympia.

It’s all up to Governor Inslee.

From Safe Routes to Schools:

A few days ago, Washingtonians celebrated a historic commitment to investing in safe streets, new sidewalks, and bike pathways for school kids and communities. The state transportation package that Governor Inslee signed into law includes $320 million for active transportation over 16 years and represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for champions of walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School. Specific to Safe Routes to School, the package includes $142 million over 16 years—essential funding to help communities keep kids safe and healthy.

Now, we're learning that these investments could be wiped away. The transportation package included a "poison pill" amendment that would eliminate nearly $2 billion in funding for transit, bicycling and walking if the Inslee administration enacts a low carbon fuel standard. Governor Inslee is considering doing so in spite of the fact this action would mean all Safe Routes to School, bicycling, and walking funding would instead go to roads.

Don't let politics in Olympia drive this false choice between safety and climate change. Tell Governor Inslee there are other ways to implement his climate agenda that don’t come at the cost of children’s health and safety. Read more from our partners at Washington Bikes and send a message to Governor Inslee today.