1984-04-11 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e . ... r . ------ ~- . C(,.J- ' 3 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING INCREASED STATE HIGHWAY FUNDING, PASSAGE OF THE POTHOLE BILL AND INCREASED HIGHWAY USER CHARGES WHEREAS, authoritative surveys reveal that: (1) Texas leads the nation in the number of deficient bridges (172,000) and deteriorated state roadways (7,740 miles). (2) The state's Sit per-gallon motor fuel tax is. the lowest in the nation, and has not been increased in 27 years. Moreover, in 1965, 27% of the state budget went for transportation, while in 1982 only about 10% of the state budget was spent for transportation-related purposes. (3) Each Texas motorist pays a "bad roads" tax averaging $291 per year for wasted gasoline, tire wear, car repairs, insurance and medical bills. (4) Additional transportation spending of $51 billion" will be needed over the next 20 years to overcome the current backlog of needs--inc1uding $6.2 million for road and bridge rehabilitation, $30.3 billion for reconstruction, $6.7 billion for new roads and $7.7 billion for main- tenance; and WHEREAS, the state's transportation funding problems are reflected at the local level, as follows: (1) The current backlog of city street repair needs exceeds $1 billion. Texas cities are spending an estimated $193 million per year on street repairs--more than ever before. But they are still falling further behind each year, because the street repair backlog is growing at rates that exceed local spending increases. The cities must have state financial assistance in order to bring their streets and bridges up to s tanda rd. (2) Upwards of 20 percent of all municipal streets--more than 13,000 miles-- are currently in need of major repair. (3) The deterioration of city streets and bridges will accelerate in the future. The 10 million motor vehicles already in the state are wearing out local roads and bridges faster than they can be repaired; twenty years from now, the cities will have 16 million vehicles to contend with--more than half again today's volume; and WHEREAS, the Texas Municipal League supports the state funding and tax increases necessary to bring our state-local roads and bridges up to par; Ii 'II ,.,. ! "of U- t I :: ~ ; t NOW, r THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the ('Governing Body) of the City of ,-: .,) that the Texas Legislature is urged to enact a state-local road and bridge financing package composed of the following: (1) An increase of $1 billion per year in funding for the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. G"3