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The United States Conference of Mayors TEA-21 REAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATIVE AGENDA STRENGTHEN METROPOLITAN ECONOMIES THROUGH TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT September 2002 Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston, President James A. Garner, Mayor of Hempstead, Vice President Donald L. Plusquellic, Mayor of Akron, Advisory Board Chair Kenneth L. Barr, Mayor of Fort Worth, Transportation & Communications Chair J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director The United States Conference of Mayors Strengthen the Nation’s Economy Through Metropolitan Transportation Investment Metropolitan economies function as engines of economic growth, job and income creation, and new industry for their region and for the nation as whole Core Principle Suballocation and increased federal and state transportation investment to metropolitan areas is vital to the future of the United States economy. Metropolitan areas generate 80% of the nation’s employment, income, and production of goods and services Metropolitan area transportation infrastructure also acts as a gateway between the nation’s non-urban areas and the global economy Metropolitan areas are transportation hubs, serving as the primary points of exit for goods headed for international markets The concentration of transportation infrastructure in metropolitan areas also lowers transportation costs, lowering the final costs of production inputs, and ultimately providing goods and services to final customers at a lower price Reauthorization Goals Preserve and grow the transit program from $7.5 billion to $14 billion and highway program from $34 billion to $41 billion by FY 2009 Suballocate surface transportation funds to metropolitan areas for repair and maintenance of existing urban highways while giving equal weight to expanding public transit systems, congestion mitigation, safety programs, intermodal projects, land use, and streamlined federal and state transportation regulations The Gross Metropolitan Product Of The Top 10 Metro Areas In 2001 Exceed The Combined Output Of 31 Statesto expanding public transit systems, congestion Policy Reauthorization Recommendations Congestion & Air Quality Substantially increase the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program to $4.5 billion annually Require states to suballocate National Highway System (NHS) funding to metropolitan areas no less than a ratio of number of NHS lane miles in metropolitan areas for congestion relief Dedicated resources to combat increasing urban congestion through expanded use of ITS technology Suballocation Suballocate CMAQ and Intelligent Transportation Systems Program (ITS) funds and decision-making directly to metropolitan areas Revise the Borders & Corridors Program to suballocate funding to border metropolitan areas for transportation, infrastructure, and technology advancing secure and efficient international trade and travel 92% Of The Nation’s Mayors Believe The Suballocation Of Federal Surface Transportation Funds To Metropolitan Areas Would Provide Greater Transportation Solutions The United States Conference of Mayors In A National U.S. Conference of Mayors Poll, 60% Percent Of Americans Favor Expanding Public Transportation Over Driving Rail Investment End diversion of railroad diesel tax revenues to the general fund and address the need to improve rail infrastructure (freight, commuter, and passenger) through a commitment of the railroad fuel tax and other potential federal resources for this purpose 80% Federal – 20% Local Transit Share Maintain current matching shares for the transit program as authorized under TEA-21 Maintain Flexible Funding Guarantees Maintain the firewalls, guaranteed funding levels and flexibility for the transit and highway program Explore flexible financing options to address a variety of road, transit, commuter rail, bicycle, and pedestrian needs Expand innovative incentive-based programs for encouraging alternative transportation use, such as tax credits for using public transit, walking or biking Smart Growth & Urban Reinvestment Support transit linkages related to land use development emphasizing strong consideration of projects with transit supportive land use patterns Substandard Bridges Increase both formula and discretionary funds to continue to reduce the backlog of substandard bridges with targeting of funds to the local levels Intermodal Connections Seamless transportation system for all modal elements, including airports, highway, passenger and freight rail Mega Projects Identify and advance funding of major transportation projects by challenging the Federal Highway Administration to work with states and local government to develop a program that would address the needs of “mega projects” Context-Sensitive Roadway Design Promote more explicit definition of context sensitive roadway design standards to minimize delays in implementing federally funded projects in constrained urban areas Revise the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Green Book to more explicitly identify the range of options to balance traffic safety and community values Transit Investing In Working Families Increase funding and coordination of human and social service programs with transportation policies, such as Job Access/Reverse Commute Securing The Nation’s Transportation Infrastructure Continue the development of a comprehensive security improvement program that secures the nation’s transportation network without utilizing TEA-21 reauthorization funding The United States Conference of Mayors TEA-21 Reauthorization Policy Stakeholders U.S. Department of Transportation, Secretary Norman Y. Mineta U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, Chairman James M. Jeffords (VT) U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Chairman Paul S. Sarbanes (MD) U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, Chairman Ernest F. Hollings (SC) U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation Infrastructure, Chairman Don Young (AK) The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The primary roles of the Conference of Mayors are to promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy; strengthen federal-city relationships; ensure that federal policy meets urban needs; provide mayors with leadership and management tools; and create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information. More information is available at usmayors.org. 1620 Eye Street, Northwest Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (202) 293-7330