The Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217) passed the state House 96-0 a few weeks ago, and now it’s starting it’s climb through the Senate. The Senate Transportation Committee is holding a hearing on the bill tomorrow, so now would be a good time to let your senators know you support this common sense, red-tape-cutting neighborhood safety bill.

If you want to watch the hearing, it will be streamed live at 3:30 p.m. Thursday on TVW. The ratings will probably rival the Grammys…

From the Bicycle Alliance:

Just two weeks ago the Washington House of Representatives unanimously voted 96-0 in favor of the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217). Your emails and calls were critical in making this vote such a bipartisan success!

This bill, drafted by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and championed by Representative Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline), gives cities and towns the ability to create safer neighborhood streets by lowering speed limits on non-arterial streets to 20 miles per hour, while at the same time reducing government red tape and cutting study costs currently required by the state.

We just found out that this Thursday the Senate Transportation Committee has scheduled a public hearing for the bill.

Now we need your help again to let your senators know that you want to remove red tape, cut costs for cities and towns, and give cities a new safety tool to make it safer to travel along neighborhood streets.

Your email to your state senator is a crucial component in the bill’s success. And it only requires two simple steps:

#1 – Follow the accompanying link to contact your State Senator (no need to contact your representatives) by entering your mailing address here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

#2 – Email your senator a note expressing your support of this important public safety legislation. Below we’ve included some model text for you to use:

Dear Senator. _________,

SHB 1217 – the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill – is about to be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee and I urge you to support this important legislation.

The Neighborhood Safe Speeds bill 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 it encourages active living by offering cities and towns the chance to create safer streets. Most importantly, when used in conjunction with engineering and enforcement, lower speeds on non-arterial streets can save lives.

Please support the Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217).

Thank you for your service,

[Your Name here]