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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2394cd ResO-utoon No., ,~~' A Resolution URGING CONGRESS TO CONSIDER IN FINAL PASSAGE OF OF THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT A FORMULA THAT CONTAINS A 90 PERCENT RETURN TO TEXAS FOR EVERY DOLLAR TEXAS CONTRIBUTES TO THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council, comprised primarily of local elected officials, is the regional transportation policy body associated with the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and, WHEREAS, the Regional Transportation Council is charged with the responsibility of preparing and mamtaimng the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area m accordance with applicable federal regulations, and WHEREAS, Mobility .2020. The Metropolitan Transportation Plan is the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area as adopted by the Regional Transportation Council on December 2, 1996 and WHEREAS, Mobilrty 2020. The Metropolitan Transportation Plan contains $32 6 billion m transportation needs, resulting in a financial program calling for $6 8 billion in additional revenue, and WHEREAS, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) expired on September 30 1997 and the six month ISTEA extension bill will expire on April 30 1998 and WHEREAS, the U S Senate, voted to approve S.B 1173 (ISTEA II), which will provide $214 billion in contract authority for the nation s transportation needs over the next six years (1998-2003) and the U S House of Representatives recently approved H.R. 2400 (BESTEA) which proposes $218 billion m contract authority for the nation s transportation needs over the next six years (1998-2003) and WHEREAS, the funding equity issue to donor states" as outlined m the Streamlined Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21S` Century (STEP 21), now included in both ISTEA II and BESTEA legislation, is of critical importance to rapidly growing states such as Texas, and WHEREAS, the principle issue remaining for donor states m the ISTEA reauthorization debate is the percentage of total funds on which the rate of return to donor states is calculated, and WHEREAS, both the Senate s ISTEA II and House s BESTEA legislation contain language fora 90 cents on the dollar guaranteed return on highway formula programs for Texas, and WHEREAS, rt is estimated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) that the funding return to Texas as provided in the ISTEA II legislation is 87 cents per every dollar contributed by Texas to the Highway Trust Fund, and as proposed in the BESTEA legislation, the return is 82 cents per every dollar contributed by Texas to the Highway Trust Fund, and CITY OF FORT WORTH WHEREAS, Texas and the North Central Texas region need a valid and certain 90 percent return on the total highway program in order to keep pace with the projected increases in both population and vehicular travel demand m our state and region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS 1 That the City Council applauds the continuous efforts by members of both the House and Senate in supporting legislation that increases the nations investment in transportation infrastructure over the next six years, and 2 That the City Council continues to support federal transportation legislation that guarantees a 90 percent return on the total highway program and a 90 cent return to Texas for every dollar Texas contributes to the Highway Trust Fund, and 3 That the City Council directs the City Manager and his staff to transmit a copy of this resolution to the appropriate members of the Texas Congressional delegation and the NCTCOG Regional Transportation Council. Adopted this a-~ day of April, 1998 1 u~L~L~1~.. Mayor Kenneth Barr ~~®~~ ~IT~' ~~OUNCIL APR 21 `(998 (~/ !.1iie~s.~(~ Qttg~ot face City of Fort ~'ortte, i'exas CITE OF FORT WORTH