Montana ISTEA2 What To Do? Page

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? HERE ARE 4 THINGS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

1. Write your Senators and Congressman and let them know what you think!

Contact Senators Max Baucus and Conrad Burns, and Representative Rick Hill. They need to hear that Montanans care about our transportation future. Here are some important points to stress:

ISTEA works and should be improved
Support the ISTEA Works! bill
Don't give State DOTs a free rein to build lots more highways
Don't weaken Enhancements and Air Quality set-aside programs
Local control is very important and should be increased
Citizens must have an expanded say in transportation decisions
Pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists are important, too

For more background on the important -- and current -- issues involved, check out our Alerts page and our Talking Points page. For more information about the importance of Local Control in transportation (a key difference between the various bills!), check out our page on that subject!

2. Write letters to your local newspaper.

It's a fact: the most read section of any newspaper is the Letters to the Editor column. Add your voice to the dialogue and let people in your community know what the ISTEA reauthorization battle is all about. Want a sample letter to use as a starting point? We've got several online here!

3. Ask your organizations and local governments to take a pro-ISTEA position!

The fight to reauthorize ISTEA is, on our side at least, a grassroots effort and we need the support of groups from all over. Many of the groups that helped draft the platform are local organizations and are the only ones standing up to the highway lobby. However, we believe that if enough of us "little people" get involved, we can send a "Message to Washington." What message? How about:

Montanans care about transportation and want it to foster people-friendly communities where driving is one option but not the only choice.

We've got a copy of the sign-on letter that the Alternative Energy Resource Organization (AERO) and 20 other Montana-based organizations sent to the delegation in support of ISTEA. Elsewhere, on this site, we also have statements from a variety of national groups giving their positions to give you some ideas.

4. Ask your Senators and Congressman to meet with your group or agency.

After you've gotten your group or agency up to date on ISTEA reauthorization issues, schedule a meeting with members of the Congressional delegation (especially Sen. Baucus, the primary sponsor of the STARS 2000 bill). For more information on what to do and what to say, drop us a line for help!