HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05 TransportationCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
COUNCIL RESOLUTION
February 28, 2007
No. 07-05
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A RESOLUTION REQUESTING
COMPREHENSIVE ROAD AND TRANSIT FUNDING IN 2007
WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound, efficient and adequately funded transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel; and
WHEREAS, due to budget constraints, cities are increasingly deferring maintenance on the over 39,000 lane miles under municipal jurisdiction of the 277,607 total lane miles in Minnesota;
and
WHEREAS, local cost participation requirements for trunk highway and county projects are onerous and are contributing to strains on city budgets; and
WHEREAS, existing local funding mechanisms, such as Municipal State Aid (MSA), property taxes, special assessments and bonding, have limited applications, leaving cities unable to adequately
address growing transportation needs; and
WHEREAS, the recently approved constitutional amendment that phases in dedication of 100 percent of the motor vehicle sales tax (MVST) for transportation purposes will address only a
fraction of the transportation funding needs in Minnesota, and total MVST revenues are not meeting projections; and
WHEREAS, transportation analysts in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) estimate Minnesota will have to invest an additional $1.5 billion per year in
transportation infrastructure for the next ten years in order to meet identified needs; and
WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement costs significantly contribute to rising property taxes; and
WHEREAS, lack of state funding has delayed regionally significant road construction and reconstruction projects across Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota’s transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development; and
WHEREAS, congestion, inefficient transportation systems and lack of transportation choices lead to greater dependence on foreign oil, increased environmental degradation, and economic
disadvantages for Minnesota’s businesses and residents; and
WHEREAS, many rural roads are not built to modern safety standards and are not meeting the needs of industries that depend on the ability to transport heavy loads; and
WHEREAS, current funding for roads and transit systems across all government levels in Minnesota is inadequate, and this under-investment hinders Minnesota’s progress as a national business,
economic and civic leader.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS that this Council requests that in 2007 the Minnesota Legislature pass a comprehensive transportation funding
package that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS that this Council requests that in 2007 Governor Tim Pawlenty allow a comprehensive transportation funding package
that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation that is passed by the Legislature to become law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS that this Council defines a comprehensive transportation funding package as an initiative that permanently increases
dedicated funding for state and local road and transit systems in Greater Minnesota and the Metropolitan Area.
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Moved by: Harris Approved by: ________________________
Susan L. Gehrz, Mayor
February 28, 2007
GEHRZ _4___ In Favor Attested by: ________________________
KUETTEL Justin Miller
HARRIS _0___ Against City Administrator
LINDSTROM February 28, 2007
TALBOT - absent