SUPPORT OF INCREASED METROPOLITAN PLANNING TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
IN THE REAUTHORIZATION OF TEA-21
WHEREAS,
The Federal Highway Act of 1973 required states to dedicate a portion of the
funds they received from the federal highway trust fund for Metropolitan
Planning Organizations (MPOs) to carry out metropolitan transportation planning
programs under the direction of mayors and other local policy makers; and
WHEREAS,
Mayors and other local policy makers ultimately make decisions on MPO plans and
programs ensuring that transportation decisions on projects and spending
reflect needs of cities and the people who live our communities as opposed to
the concrete and highway establishment; and
WHEREAS,
Many states continue to penalize cities in the distribution of federal
transportation funds and projects; and
WHEREAS,
MPOs offer a means, although limited at this point, to counter the dominating
control of state departments of transportation over federal transportation
funds; and
WHEREAS,
According to the 2000 Census, 80 percent of the nation’s population now resides
on metropolitan areas and trends suggest that the metropolitan share of the
population will continue to increase; and
WHEREAS,
The 2000 Census resulted in 76 new urban areas and 46 new MPOs – without
increased funding, this fact alone would result in a one fifth reduction in
real planning fund levels; and
WHEREAS,
MPO planning funds are used to develop transportation plans to meet air quality
standards set forth in the Clean Air Act; and
WHEREAS,
In spite of the increased functions placed on MPOs, such as emergency planning,
environmental justice, job access, and freight planning, overall MPO funding
has remained at the 1 percent level set in ISTEA,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urge
the Administration and Congress to increase the metropolitan transportation
planning set-aside to the highest funding level.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 