HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-064-05/06/1997-NATIONAL ECONOMIC CROSSROADS NEXTEA TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT RESOLUTION 97-64
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
ENDORSING THE FEDERAL"NATIONAL ECONOMIC CROSSROADS
TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT" (NEXTEA)
WHEREAS, the federal "Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991"
(ISTEA) was designed to be the comprehensive solution to federal surface transportation funding
since it replaced the "Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987",
which marked the end of the interstate era; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of ISTEA has been "to develop a National Intermodal
Transportation System that is economically efficient and environmentally sound, provides the
foundation for the Nation to compete in the global economy, and will move people and goods in an
energy efficient manner"; and
WHEREAS, ISTEA has given states and local governments flexibility as to how federal
moneys are spent in their regions; and
WHEREAS, the federal "National Economic Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act"
(NEXTEA) is proposed as the reauthorization of ISTEA for the next six years as a $175 billion
investment program to improve America's highways, bridges, transit systems, and railroads; and
WHEREAS, the purposes of NEXTEA are to "lower the toll in lives and health care costs
from motor vehicle crashes, enhance America's environment, and support mobility and economic
prosperity"; and
WHEREAS,NEXTEA increases surface transportation funding by$17 billion,or 11 percent,
over the level authorized by ISTEA for the next six years; provides greater flexibility for states and
localities to target funds to projects that best meet community needs; expands programs for
innovative financing to leverage federal dollars; provides $600 million to deploy intelligent
transportation technology to cut travel time and enhance safety; increases funding for drunk driving
prevention by 73 percent compared to ISTEA; increases funding for the Congestion Management
and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) by 30 percent, to $1.3 billion annually; increases
Transportation Enhancements funding by more than 35 percent to support bike paths, pedestrian
walkways,and other community-oriented projects;and provides greater flexibility for state and local
investment in non-polluting modes of transportation; and
WHEREAS, NEXTEA builds upon the strengths of ISTEA and continues the important
policy directions established by ISTEA, such as greater flexibility of federal funding to support
multi-modal transportation needs, regional transportation planning through metropolitan planning
organizations, and Congestion Management and Air Quality Improvement Programs; and
WHEREAS, NEXTEA is in conformance with position papers adopted by the Colorado
Transportation Commission and the North Front Range Transportation & Air Quality Planning
Council.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL that
the Fort Collins City Council respectfully urges Senator Wayne Allard, Senator Ben Nighthorse
Campbell, and Congressman Bob Schaffer of the 105th Congress of the United States to support
NEXTEA as proposed.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this
6th day of May, A.D. 1997.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk