Item 4TItem 4T
CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
MEMORANDUM
(June 17, 2014)
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Robert H. Price, P.E., Director of Public Works
Ken Baker, Director of Planning and Development Services
Subject: Resolution No. 14-032, Adopting a resolution supporting the
need to adequately fund transportation and authorizing the
Mayor to execute the resolution on behalf of the City Council
Action
Requested: Resolution No. 14-032, Adopting a resolution supporting the need
to adequately fund transportation and authorizing the Mayor to
execute the resolution on behalf of the City Council.
Background
Information: The Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Dallas -Fort Worth
area, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
is required to maintain a long-range transportation plan that defines
a vision for the region's multimodal transportation system. This
plan is known as the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and
its aim is to identify policies, programs, and projects for
development that respond to adopted goals and to guide
expenditures for state and federal funds over the next 20 plus
years.
In June 2013, the Regional Transportation Council approved a new
long-range transportation plan, Mobility 2035 - 2013 Update. This
plan was developed with public input and collaboration with
regional transportation partners. Mobility 2035 represents a
blueprint for a comprehensive, modern transportation system for
the Dallas -Fort Worth area.
The Texas Metropolitan Mobility Plan (TMMP) addresses a
statewide initiative to quantify long-range needs within the larger
metropolitan areas of the state and to develop a shorter -range
prioritized listing of projects aimed at improving mobility, reducing
traffic congestion, and mitigating air quality impacts. This plan will
serve as a comprehensive, multimodal blueprint for transportation
systems and services within the Dallas -Fort Worth Metropolitan
Area. Unlike the region's long-range Metropolitan Transportation
Plan (Mobility 2035 - 2013 Update), it is not constrained by
anticipated revenues. The TMMP focuses on the magnitude of
unmet transportation needs for the region and provides decision -
makers with a better feel for the quantity of additional funding
needed.
The Dallas -Fort Worth area welcomed one million residents from
2000-2010, continuing a trend that has helped the region's
economy become one of the strongest in the nation. While robust
growth has contributed to the Dallas -Fort Worth area's prosperity,
it has also resulted in growing pains. One of the most obvious
issues is increased traffic congestion. Transportation needs
continue to intensify, but the region is expected to receive less
funding for roads, rails and bicycle -pedestrian improvements over
the next 20-plus years.
Mobility 2035 — 2013 Update, the region's long-range transportation
plan, identifies $98.7 billion through 2035 to improve transportation.
While this is a significant investment, it is more than $40 billion less
than the region's previous plan, which charted improvements
through 2030. About $395.3 billion is needed to alleviate the worst
levels of congestion.
Motor fuel taxes are an important funding source for transportation
improvements. Currently, the state taxes gasoline and diesel at 20
cents a gallon, and the federal government levies an 18.4-cent gas
and a 24.4-cent diesel tax. At the state level, diversions to non -
transportation uses reduce the availability of funding to build and
maintain needed projects.
At the federal level, Texas is considered a donor state, meaning
the state receives less funding for transportation than it collects in
fuel taxes. These are not the only funding threats. Because fuel is
taxed per gallon, as people move to more fuel efficient vehicles or
alternative -fuel vehicles, less money is available to build and
maintain facilities. While these new technologies are good for the
environment, the influx of fuel -efficient vehicles magnifies the
funding challenges facing North Texas. These challenges call for a
new approach to paying for transportation.
This proposed resolution supports adequate funding for
transportation to meet the needs of the growth in the region and the
state.
Financial
Considerations: The adoption of this resolution has no direct financial impacts for
the city of Southlake.
Strategic Link: The adoption of the Resolution 14-032 supporting the need to
adequately fund transportation links to the city's strategy map
relative to the focus areas of Mobility, Infrastructure, and
Performance Management and Service Delivery. The specific
corporate objectives that are met by the adoption of the resolution
include: C2 - Provide travel convenience within the City and the
region and F2 - Invest to provide and maintain high quality public
assets.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: N/A
Legal Review: N/A
Alternatives: The City Council may approve or deny Resolution 14-032.
Supporting
Documents: Resolution 14-032
Staff
Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 14-032, Adopting a resolution supporting
the need to adequately fund transportation and authorizing the
Mayor to execute the resolution on behalf of the City Council.
Staff
Contact: Robert H. Price, P.E., Public Works Director
Ken Baker, Planning and Development Services Director
Cheryl Taylor, P.E., CFM, City Engineer/Deputy Director
RESOLUTION NO. 14-032
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS SUPPORTING THE
ADEQUATE FUNDING OF THE NATION'STRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is
designated as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Dallas -Fort Worth
Metropolitan Area by the Governor of Texas in accordance with federal law; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), comprised primarily of
local elected officials, is the regional transportation policy body associated with the
North Central Texas Council of Governments, and has been and continues to be the
regional forum for cooperative decisions on transportation; and,
WHEREAS, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently concluded his
invest in America, Commit to the Future Bus Tour in Garland, Texas, highlighting the
need for a national investment in roads, bridges, ports and transit systems; and,
WHEREAS, during the bus tour, Secretary Foxx stressed the importance of
transportation projects' ability to provide ladders of opportunity to create jobs, plan for
the future and spur economic development; and,
WHEREAS, the balance in the Highway Trust Fund is expected to be exhausted
by August 2014, which could lead to transportation projects being delayed; and,
WHEREAS, transportation needs far outpace the ability of the Highway Trust
Fund at the federal level and the State Highway Fund at the state level, leading to a
backlog of needed transportation projects; and,
WHEREAS, voices from across the nation such as elected officials, business
leaders and citizens need to be heard on the need to address transportation funding
needs -land,
WHEREAS, several initiatives at the federal and state levels, such as the
November 2014 election for Proposition 1, the need to address the Highway Trust Fund
shortfall, the reauthorization of MAP-21 in Congress and the upcoming 84t" Texas
Legislature, present real opportunities to address transportation funding needs in a
meaningful way.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT:
Section 1. The Southlake City Council supports the need to
adequately fund transportation.
Section 2. Members of the Southlake City Council will carry the
message about the ability of transportation projects to create jobs
and spur economic development along with the need to adequately
fund transportation to groups in their communities such as
chambers
of commerce, other business groups, neighborhood associations,
and others.
Section 3. The Director of Transportation is permitted to communicate this
position of support on behalf of the Southlake City Council.
Section 4. This resolution will be transmitted to the United States Department
of Transportation, the North Central Texas Congressional and
Legislative Delegations, partner transportation organizations and all
impacted local governments in the Dallas -Fort Worth region.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption, and it is so
Resolved.
ADOPTED this day of )2014.
Mayor John Terrell, City of Southlake
ATTEST:
Lori Payne, City Secretary
Regional Transportailon Council
The Transportation Policy Body for the North Central Texas Council .of Governments
(Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Dallas -Fort Worth Region)
TO: Mayors, County Judges, County Commissioners DATE: May 30, 2014
City Managers, City Administrators
FROM: Kathryn Wilemon
Chair, Regional Transportation Council
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Arlington
SUBJECT: Regional Transportation Council
Resolution Supporting Adequate Transportation Funding
The United States Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently visited the North
Texas region during his Invest in America, Commit to the Future Bus Tour. During the visit, Secretary
Foxx stressed the importance of transportation infrastructure and the numerous economic opportunities
it creates, as well as called for a heightened awareness of the need for transportation funding. As a
result, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) approved a resolution supporting adequate funding
for transportation and requesting local governments, business leaders and the public to encourage
Congress to provide adequate levels of transportation funding.
Please find enclosed the RTC Resolution Supporting the Adequate Funding of the Transportation
System (R14-03). The RTC urges you take similar action. Talking points or additional information can
be provided upon request.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Michael Morris, P.E., Director of
Transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) at (817) 695-9241.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Wilemon, Chair
Regional Transportation Council
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Arlington
RH:ch
Enclosure
cc: Michael Morris, P.E., Director of Transportation, NCTCOG
P. 0. Box 5888 • Arlington, Texas 76006-5888 • (817) 695-9240 • FAX (817) 640-3028
http://www.neteog.org/trans
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ADEQUATE FUNDING OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
(R14-03)
WHEREAS, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is designated
as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Dallas -Fort Worth Metropolitan Area
by the Governor of Texas in accordance with federal law; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC), comprised primarily of local
elected officials, is the regional transportation policy body associated with the North Central
Texas Council of Governments, and has been and continues to be the regional forum for
cooperative decisions on transportation; and,
WHEREAS, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx recently concluded his Invest in
America, Commit to the Future Bus Tour in Garland, Texas, highlighting the need for a
national investment in roads, bridges, ports and transit systems; and,
WHEREAS, during the bus tour, Secretary Foxx stressed the importance of
transportation projects' ability to provide ladders of opportunity to create jobs, plan for the
future and spur economic development; and,
WHEREAS, the balance in the Highway Trust Fund is expected to be exhausted by
August 2014, which could lead to transportation projects being delayed; and,
WHEREAS, transportation needs far outpace the ability of the Highway Trust Fund at
the federal level and the State Highway Fund at the state level, leading to a backlog of
needed transportation projects; and,
WHEREAS, voices from across the nation such as elected officials, business leaders
and citizens need to be heard on the need to address transportation funding needs; and,
WHEREAS, several initiatives at the federal and state levels, such as the November
2014 election for Proposition 1, the need to address the Highway Trust Fund shortfall, the
reauthorization of MAP-21 in Congress and the upcoming 84th Texas Legislature, present
real opportunities to address transportation funding needs in a meaningful way.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT:
Section 1. The Regional Transportation Council supports the need to
adequately fund transportation.
Section 2. Members of the Regional Transportation Council will carry the
message about the ability of transportation projects to create jobs
and spur economic development along with the need to adequately
fund transportation to groups in their communities such as chambers
of commerce, other business groups, neighborhood associations,
and others.
Section 3. The Director of Transportation is permitted to communicate this
position of support on behalf of the Regional Transportation Council.
Section 4. This resolution will be transmitted to the United States Department
of Transportation, the North Central Texas Congressional and
Legislative Delegations, partner transportation organizations and all
impacted local governments in the Dallas -Fort Worth region.
Section 5. This resolution shall be in effect immediately upon its adoption.
Regional Trantortation Council
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Arlington
I hereby certify that this resolution was adopted by the Regional Transportation Council of
the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the Dallas -Fort Worth Metropolitan Area on
May 8, 2014.
Mark Riley, ecretary
Regional Transportation Council
County Judge, Parker County