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1998-076City of Southlake, Texas RESOLUTION NO. 98-76 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, URGING THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION. WHEREAS, road and bridge maintenance and expansion is a core function of government; and, WHEREAS, mobility is fundamental to Texas economic vitality and quality of life; and, WHEREAS, maintaining mobility requires continuing investment of State resources to maintain and expand the surface transportation infrastructure to meet identified needs; and, WHEREAS, an estimated 78 percent of the roads and bridges in Texas need repair or modernization, and Texas ranks 45`h nationally per capita in highway spending and first in the nation in substandard bridges, and; WHEREAS, current -level appropriations to the Texas Department of Transportation TxDOT) are adequate to only address one-third of the identified Texas transportation needs; and, WHEREAS, increased appropriations to TxDOT are necessary to continue State -funded road and bridge maintenance and construction programs that simultaneously leverage the maximum amount of federal funding for which Texas is eligible from the Transportation Equality Act for the 21S` Century, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT: Section 1. That the 76`h Texas Legislature is urged to increase annual appropriations to the Texas Department of Transportation by (a) funding the Department of Public Safety from a source other than Fund 006 so that Fund 006 resources will be available to maintain and expand road and bridge infrastructure, (b) moving the point of collection of State motor fuel taxes from the retail to the wholesale level in the distribution process, (c) expanding 2060 truck permit fees and penalties to reduce the passenger vehicle subsidy of oversize and overweight freight vehicles, and (d) increasing revenue from existing revenue programs including State motor fuel tax and vehicle registration fees. Section 2. That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, and the chairs of the following legislative committees: Senate Appropriations, House Committee on Transportation, House Committee on Ways and Means, and House Select Committee on Revenue and Public Education Funding. PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE " Mayor: Rick Stacy Mayor Pro Tem: W. Ralph Evans Deputy Mayor Pro Tem: Scott F. Martin Councilmembers: Wayne Moffat Ronnie Kendall Debra Edmondson Gary Fawks City Manager: Curtis E. Hawk Assistant City Manager: Shana K. Yelverton y Secretary: ndra L. LeGrand City of Southlake Administrative Offices Office of the City Secretary December 16, 1998 Governor George Bush P.O.Box 12428 Austin, TX 78711 Dear Sir, Enclosed is Resolution No. 98-76 which urges the Texas Legislature to increase appropriations for road and bridge maintenance and expansion. The Southlake City Council passed this Resolution on December 15, 1998. If any further information comes available concerning this issue please contact this office at (817) 481-5581, ext. 704. Sincerely, A Q4t'i"/ Sandra L. LeGrand City Secretary Cc: Governor George Bush Lieutenant Governor Speaker of the House of Representatives Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair of the House Committee on Transportation Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means Chair of the House Select Committee on Revenue and Public Education Funding. 1725 East Southlake Blvd. • Southlake, Texas 76092 817) 481-5581 • FAX (817) 488-6796 4N EQUAL OPPORTUNIrYEMPLOYER' ATTACHMENT.1 September 1998 The Regional Transportation Council and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) recognize the need for funding a strong multimodal surface transportation system. The support coordination, and cooperation of federal, state, regional, and local governments and transportation authorities is needed to achieve this system. Therefore, the Regional Transportation Council and ; NCTCOG adopt this: Regional Policy Position on State Transportation Funding Issues for Consideration During the 76th Texas Legislative Session While the State of Texas and its metropolitan areas continue to experience unprecedented economic growth, our transportation system is deteriorating and metropolitan congestion levels continue to rise. Adequate funding to support needed maintenance and expansion of the transportation system is not in place. On a statewide basis, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will likely only be able to meet one third of the State's transportation needs over the next ten years. Given current funding levels, the Dallas -Fort Worth Metropolitan Area will only realize $32 billion of the $99 billion in transportation funds needed to maintain current levels of mobility between now and the year 2020. The impact of this shortfall can be seen today, as $750 million of roadway projects in the TxDOT Dallas and Fort Worth Districts are backlogged, ready for construction, but without available funding. Local and Federal Initiatives Communities within the Dallas -Fort Worth area continue to show support for increased transportation funding through the payment of additional local sales taxes, allowing transportation authorities to implement multimodal solutions such as commuter and light rail service, high occupancy vehicle lanes, and expanded bus service. Strong support for toll roads also continues as the North Texas Tollway Authority moves forward with multiple toll road projects. Cities and counties continue to pursue local bond programs to build regional transportation projects. The long-awaited additional federal funding has now arrived. With the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century (TEA -21), higher levels of needed federal transportation funding will be available for Texas. By adjusting the distribution formulas, Congress has ensured that a greater share of federal transportation funds, estimated to be an additional $700 million annually, will be returned to the State. While these funds will greatly benefit Texas, this initiative alone will not meet the transportation needs. State funds will be required to match the increased federal dollars. We cannot afford to leave federal funds on the table, nor can we afford to divert State funds away from the 100 percent State funded programs. These State funds provide the flexibility needed to carry out critical State transportation programs, system maintenance, and construction. North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Transportation Council P. O. Box 5888 • Arlington, Texas 76005-5888 0 (817) 640-3300 9 FAX (817) 640-3028 0 http://www.nctcog.dst.tx.us/trans In order to meet the growing need to maintain and expand our transportation system, critical to both the State of Texas and the Dallas - Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, the 76th Texas Legislature is hereby urged to increase the State level of investment in transportation through the following strategies: Stop the Diversion of State Transportation Funds for Non -transportation Purnoses The State Highway Fund 006 is a significant source of revenue for the State of Texas. Continued erosion of this fund for non -transportation purposes is contributing to the shortfall of transportation funds. In 1998, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) funding from Fund 006 totaled $318 million or 85 percent T of the DPS budget. The Legislature is urged to identify an alternative source of funding for the Department of Public Safety in 1999. Change the State Motor Fuel Tax Point of Collection._ i; Moving the point of collection of our State motor fuel taxes from retail to the wholesale level in the distribution process has been estimated to generate an additional $50 million to $100 million in revenue to Fund 006. Following the lead of the federal government in 1993, and now 18 other U.S. states, the legislature is urged to pursue this action as a mechanism for increasing State transportation revenues. Increase Oversize and Overweiaht Trucks Fees The State 2060 permit fee of $75 allows oversize and overweight trucks to operate on Texas roads and bridges that are already overburdened. With 78 percent of the roads and bridges in Texas in need of repair or modernization, we must ensure that policies are in place to protect the system, and that sufficient funds are available to adequately maintain road and bridges. The Legislature is urged to revisit the 2060 permit fee and restrict oversize/overweight trucks from using functionally and structurally deficient roads and bridges, which creates safety hazards and causes significant damage to the system. Further the Legislature is urged to increase the 2060 permit fee to ensure that the oversize and overweight vehicle fee is sufficient to cover the higher costs of repairing damages associated with these vehicles using the system. Consider Additional Revenue from Current Source$ State revenue for transportation improvements comes largely from State motor fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. The Regional Transportation Council and NCTCOG support increasing revenues from these sources. Specific actions may include: increasing State motor fuel taxes; increasing the annual motor vehicle registration fee; increasing the first-time registration fee for out-of-state vehicles; and consider modifying the motor fuel tax structure to a percentage of fuel price with a minimum floor) rather than a fixed amount per gallon, in order to maintain the long-term buying power of the State motor fuel tax. i'