June 18, 2007

Resolution #95: Opposing the Federal Communication Commission’s Order Regarding Municipal Governments and Cable Franchising reaffirms the importance of the local franchising process in ensuring that the needs and interests of local communities are met; reiterates opposition to FCC actions to preempt and restrict local governments from negotiating franchise agreements or renewals in an effort to protect the best interests of their constituents, and considers such actions to exceed statutory authority; and urges Congress to restrict the FCC from using appropriated funds to implement the Franchising Order, and to otherwise ensure that any federal changes to local franchising authority are the result of deliberation and action through the legislative process.

Resolution #96: Providing Adequate Funding Sources to Address Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System Through FAA Reauthorization calls on Congress to enact in FAA reauthorization legislation an increase in the maximum PFC cap to $7.50 per flight, to index this increase to inflation, and to authorize at least $3.8 billion in AIP funding, with an increase of $100 million each year thereafter.

Resolution #97: Streetcars, Trolleys and American Cities urges that the Federal Transit Administration move expeditiously to implement the Small Starts program in an effective manner consistent with the provisions of SAFETEA-LU; and that the FTA develop a Small Starts project evaluation and review process that gives equal weight to cost effectiveness, public transit supportive land use and the effect of a project on economic development.

Resolution #98: Support of Changes to FTA Charter Service Regulations supports changes that would allow transit agencies to provide transportation service to local governments and social service agencies in the community; that such charter regulations permit public transportation agencies to provide transportation for community events; that such charter regulation permit public transportation agencies to provide community-based transportation to schools, universities, and other community institutions; that public transportation agencies shall not be punished by charter regulations without clear standards defining “charter service”; urges the Administration and Congress to clarify the charter service regulations to allow public transportation agencies to provide community-based service directly to local governments and social service agencies; that the FTA clarify the definition of charter; that vehicles acquired or maintained with any amount of federal funds be treated the same whether privately or publicly owned; and that consideration be given to the concerns of the largest public transit agencies regarding their capacity to provide such service.

r; that vehicles acquired or maintained with any amount of federal funds be treated the same whether privately or publicly owned; and that consideration be given to the concerns of the largest public transit agencies regarding their capacity to provide such service.

Resolution #91: Increasing Federal Role in the Assessment, Development and Financing of Critical National Infrastructure urges Congress to immediately address the country’s infrastructure financing gap through short-term measures such as expanding the use of flexible tolling provisions and extending to all infrastructure projects those federal policy options that enable public-private partnerships and stimulate greater investment, such as Private Activity Bonds, as well as longer-term strategies such as the development of a more progressive alternative transportation funding system like Mileage/Weight Based Revenue systems; urges Congress to make our nation’s critical infrastructure a top funding priority so as to ensure that all infrastructure of regional and national significance receives adequate federal funding, as a supplement to state and local funds, for ongoing maintenance and continued improvement; strongly urges Congress to enact legislation that will both reverse the decline in the federal share of infrastructure financing and require full federal funding of federally-imposed mandates on state and local infrastructure projects; and strongly encourages Congress to enact legislation that will require federal agencies to systematically report and update critical infrastructure needs.

ntinued improvement; strongly urges Congress to enact legislation that will both reverse the decline in the federal share of infrastructure financing and require full federal funding of federally-imposed mandates on state and local infrastructure projects; and strongly encourages Congress to enact legislation that will require federal agencies to systematically report and update critical infrastructure needs.