2003 Adopted Resolutions
71st Annual Meeting
Denver

return to table of contents

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SUBALLOCATION OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS

WHEREAS, given the strategic role of the metropolitan transportation infrastructure, it is imperative that the federal investment in transportation be continued, but is time for the Administration and Congress to ensure that additional attention be focused on these metropolitan areas; and

WHEREAS, Mayors are responsible for most of the nation's transportation infrastructure including just about every transit system, port and airport as with bridges and roads, sidewalks, trails, parking structures and other transportation assets; and

WHEREAS, under current law, metropolitan economies get to make decisions on about 10 cents on every transportation dollar they generate, a woefully modest allocation of resources to areas that represent more than one-half of the nation's population, 80 percent of the nation's employment, personal income, production of goods and services and overall economic output; and

WHEREAS, Mayors are in the best position to direct transportation funding to where it is needed most and are directly responsible for its effective use; and

WHEREAS, many cities have transportation and engineering resources to take a project from start to finish without assistance from State Departments of Transportation (state DOTs); and

WHEREAS, some review functions by state DOTs are duplicative, creating unnecessary delays and increased project costs; and

WHEREAS, city DOTs play an integral role in the planning, implementation and operation of transportation services within their cities; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration has a self-certification process that enables direct funding to cities that could easily be adopted by the Federal Highway Administration,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the Administration and Congress to suballocate Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvements (CMAQ) funds directly to metropolitan areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the Administration and Congress to suballocate state Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds as well as unprogrammed Minimum Guarantee funds directly to metropolitan areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the Administration and Congress to suballocate National Highway System (NHS) funding to metropolitan areas.