In Hartford, legislators have overwhelmingly passed a bill mandating more money for improvved access and road conditions for pedestrians and bikes throughout the state. The vote in the General Assembly was 143 - 72 this month. The bill requires state and local municipalities to use at least 1% of available road construction funds to provide for and or expand exisiting bike paths and sidewalks for pedestrians. Co-sponsor of the bill, Wilton State Senator Toni Boucher, cites the ever expanding Route 7 throughout her district as a perfect example to "consider access besides automobiles". Boucher says she does not know when Governor Jodi Rell will sign the bill due to the very tight bi-annual budget debate that is still going on with just days left before the fiscal year ends on June 30th.