HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-034 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2007/03/19RESOLUTION NO. 07-034
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 defemng 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
such as TH100 and Highway 7 and Wooddale Ave. in St. Louis Park are onerous and are
contnbuting 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 portion 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 contnbute
to using property taxes; and
WHEREAS, lack of state funding has delayed or will likely delay regionally significant
road construction and reconstruction projects such as the TH100 Full Build Project and the
construction of the Highway 7 and Wooddale Ave interchange and transit projects such as the
Southwest Transit Comdor; 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, congestion on TH100 and other major artenals in St Louis Park moves
thru-traffic off of highways and onto local collector streets in neighborhoods, increasing traffic
and wear -and -tear on local roads; 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.
Resolution No. 07-034 -2-
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT
1) The City Council requests that in 2007 the Minnesota State Legislature pass a comprehensive
transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation;
and
2) The City Council requests that in 2007 Governor Tim Pawlenty allow a comprehensive
transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation
that s p: ssed by the Legislature to become law
Re
d fo Administration:
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City Mana:er
Attest:
Adopted by the City Council March 19, 2007