TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

REBUILDING URBAN HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE

WHEREAS, throughout the nation, there are many examples of urban highway facilities that reflected design, construction and capacity features of the time, which are no longer appropriate or desirable given current and projected uses of the facility; and

WHEREAS, such facilities reflect earlier highway and other transportation planning and design features which often relied on a more uni-dimensional view of their function, often subordinating other community-building needs and objectives; and

WHEREAS, there are many examples of earlier highway and other transportation planning and design practices that significantly conflict with present day community needs; and

WHEREAS, cities and other local governments are now reevaluating the utility and function of these facilities for replacement, reconstruction or downsizing; and

WHEREAS, many transportation planners continue to emphasize new capacity projects and as a result, communities have been challenged in securing resources for investments that might result in reducing facility capacity,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation to examine methods and subsequently adopt policy and legislative reforms to help communities secure TEA-21 and other resources for such local projects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges that such necessary changes, if needed, be incorporated into future legislative initiatives, including amendments to TEA-21.