SUPPORT OF A SIX-YEAR WELL-FUNDED
METROPOLITAN FOCUSED REAUTHORIZATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE
21ST CENTURY (TEA-21)
WHEREAS,
America’s metropolitan areas, its cities and suburbs, are the engines of our
nation’s great economy generating 87% of its economic growth, over $3.8
trillion; and
WHEREAS,
metropolitan areas generate over 85% of the nation’s economic output, labor
income and jobs; and
WHEREAS,
in the global marketplace, U.S. metropolitan areas represent 48 of the world’s
100 largest economies; and
WHEREAS,
metropolitan economies need modern infrastructure to secure the nation’s future
economic growth; and
WHEREAS,
America needs a 21st Century transportation system that invests in
the dramatic expansion of high-capacity public transit systems, addresses aging
and congested infrastructure, protects the environment, defends citizen
participation and fosters job creation; and
WHEREAS,
stormwater mitigation projects promote environmental stewardship by reducing
flooding and polluted runoff from existing highways and other
transportation-related activities caused by highway stormwater discharge; and
WHEREAS,
the rising costs of land acquisition for transportation projects makes it
increasingly more difficult for localities to attract businesses and residents
in an effort to stimulate and sustain economic growth; and
WHEREAS,
maximizing investments in local transit systems leads to relief of traffic
congestion and mitigation of pollutant emissions; and
WHEREAS,
by investing transportation funds wisely, we can link our metropolitan areas,
reduce traffic congestion, create jobs, and make our new economy (based on the
rapid movement of goods and services) function more productively; and
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Department of Transportation Conditions and Performance Report
estimates that an average of $75.9 billion per year over the next 20 years will
be needed just to maintain the current physical condition and performance of
the highway system and to improve the system would require $106.9 billion per
year; and
WHEREAS,
the U.S. Department of Transportation Conditions and Performance Report
estimates the annual cost to maintain transit infrastructure to be 14.8 billion,
and the annual cost to improve the system would require $20.6 billion,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to pass a six-year transportation
reauthorization bill that funds core highway and transit programs at no fewer
than $318 billion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to recognize that a transportation
reauthorization at a significantly lower level than the Senate approved $318
billion will continue the rapid deterioration of our transportation systems;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to retain the basic principles of TEA-21;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to support the highest possible funding
for the transit program to stimulate a dramatic expansion of high-capacity
public transit systems, including light rail, heavy rail commuter rail, bus
service, dedicated alignment bus rapid transit, express bus services and
transit/HOV lanes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urges the Administration and Congress to support guaranteed funding for the
transit program from the general fund, the maintaining of current matching
shares for the transit program as authorized under ISTEA and TEA-21 and under
no circumstance should the transit program be reduced to increase funding for
the highway program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to fund the core highway program at the
highest levels possible, recognizing that congestion is a growing problem costing
over $78 billion annually and 32% of our roads are in poor or mediocre
condition and that 29% percent of bridges are structurally deficient or
functionally obsolete; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to support “Projects of National and
Regional Significance” by funding this program at the highest levels possible
recognizing that it is difficult for cities and states to dedicate resources to
large-scale projects addressing aging, structurally obsolete and congested
transportation infrastructure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to maintain the ISTEA – TEA-21 Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) and fund at the highest levels
possible recognizing the growing number of non-attainment areas designated
under the 8-hour ozone and fine particulate matter standards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress to subject State Departments of
Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to heightened
performance and accountability requirements, including regular reporting to the
public on how federal transportation funds are being spent, support locally
adopted and performance targets and that MPO Board makeup should reflect the
jurisdiction that the MPO is representing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
urge the Administration and Congress as owners and managers of virtually all of
the nation’s highways, bridges, and transit systems to suballocate greater
surface transportation resources and decision making to metropolitan areas; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the transportation bill should recognize the importance of local
government as the organization best fit to disperse and plan the use of funds
and where possible the transportation bill should allocate funding directly to
local governments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that transportation funding should continue
to recognize the unique needs growing cities and new cities.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 