5-29-15 american heart association lobbies to save “complete streets”

The American Heart Associationof Wisconsin is weighing in on a proposal to eliminate “complete streets” policy in the state budget.  Association government relations director Chris Klein says if the policy is eliminated communities would no longer need to consider building crosswalks or sidewalks when new streets are built.  So why is the Heart Association concerned about that?   “That’s a great question and our answer to that is really easy.  Its because of the health aspect,”  Klein told AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program.  “Cardiovascular disease continues to be the number one killer of Americans and one of the easiest ways to fight heart disease and stroke is to be physically active, and one of the ways to be physically active is to bike or walk.”  Klein syas the cost savings from eliminating the policy would be minimal and says if a community would decide to build sidewalks or bike paths down the road it would be much more costly.  Klein says Wisconsin would be the first state in the country to have such a policy eliminated.