HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 00-42 Urging the 77th Texas Legislature to Take Actions to Improve Texas’ Surface Transportation InfrastructureTOWN OF WESTLAKE
RESOLUTION NO. 00-42
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE TOWN OF
WESTLAKE, TEXAS, URGING THE 77TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO TAKE
CERTAIN ACTIONS TO IMPROVE TEXAS' SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEREAS, mobility and a quality surface transportation system are critical to
the economic vitality of Texas and the quality of life of Texans; and
WHEREAS, aging transportation infrastructure, population and job growth, and
increasing travel demands require an increased level of investment in order to maintain
mobility and a quality surface transportation system for Texas; and
WHEREAS, Texas citizens have come together in coalitions such as TEX-21 to
express their increasing concerns with the adverse effects on their lives of urban roadway
congestion, delays at international border crossings, roadway safety, poor roadway
surface conditions and inadequate highway capacity to accommodate the growing
international trade traversing Texas; and
WHEREAS, there is a growing sense of urgency for Texas to raise the level of
priority it places on transportation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, TEXAS, THAT THE 77TH TEXAS
LEGISLATURE BE AND HEREBY IS URGED TO:
SECTION 1: Allocate to counties five percent (5%0) of vehicle sales taxes
collected, rather than vehicle registration fees equal to that amount, as was done prior to
1992; and
SECTION 2: Make all appropriations to support functions of the Department of
Public Safety not directly related to transportation from the General Revenue Fund rather
that the State Highway Fund; and
SECTION 3: Deposit into the State Highway Fund rather than the General
Revenue Fund revenues collected by the Department of Public Safety from the following
transportation -related fees; Motor Vehicle Inspection Fees, Driver License Fees and
Driver Record Information fees; and
SECTION 4: Deposit into the State Highway Fund rather than the General
Revenue Fund revenues derived from highway right-of-way licensing or leasing; and
SECTION 5: Increase appropriations to the Lateral Road and Bridge Fund, to at
least $30 million per year, without reducing TxDOT funding, and revise the allocation
formula for Lateral Road and Bridge Fund monies giving 50% weight to population and
50% to county lane miles, with each county receiving an allocation not less than 150% of
the amount it received in the previous biennium; and
SECTION 6: Amend the Development Corporation act to include transportation
as an allowable use under subsections 4A and 4B and permit local governments by local
option election to enact a sales tax for transportation, including transit, within the existing
8.25 -cent sales tax cap; and
SECTION 7: Enact legislation and authorize an election to consider a
constitutional amendment to permit the use of state funds for toll road development in
Texas; and
SECTION 8: Establish a new transportation revolving fund and place in this fund
all new transportation dollars identified in the 77th and subsequent legislative sessions to
be used to service debt incurred through the issuance of general obligation or revenue
bonds of the state; and
SECTION 9: Permit the use of GARVEE bonds to accelerate implementation of
needed transportation improvement projects; and
SECTION 10: In consultation with the Texas Department of Transportation and
metropolitan planning organizations, adopt performance criteria to measure mobility,
access, safety, reliability and maintenance standards for the Texas transportation system,
identify minimally acceptable performance levels for the system and adopt an investment
plan to fund achievement of those performance levels; and
SECTION 11: Authorize the utilization of design -build procurement for highway
project development; and
SECTION 12: Repeal the "2060 Permit" provisions for overweight vehicles and
establish new provisions to require heavy vehicle compliance with posted weight
restrictions on bridges and to set higher permit fees and sanctions for overweight vehicles
to use Texas highways.
This resolution shall be forwarded to members of the Texas Legislature, the
Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Texas and the Texas Transportation
Commission.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 23rd DAY OF OCTOBER, 2000.
ATTEST:
dinga Crosswy, To Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
, Toymia Attorney
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Scott Bradldy, Mayor
Trent'O. Petty, Town Manger