HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-10656 Support Sustainable Transportation Funding for all Transportation Modes by Supporting Efforts of the Fix our Road Colition and SB-16RESOLUTION NO. 10656 (2015 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, URGING THE STATE TO PROVIDE NEW
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR STATE AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICIPATION IN A STATEWIDE - FIX OUR
ROADS COALITION, AND ENDORSING SB -16 (BEALL)
WHEREAS, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has called an extraordinary session to
address the immense underfunding of California's transportation infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties own and operate more than 81 percent of streets and
roads in California, and from the moment we open our front door to drive to work, bike to
school, or walk to the bus station, people are dependent upon a safe, reliable local transportation
network; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has participated in efforts with the League of
California Cities, San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and California's Regional
Transportation Planning Agencies to study unmet funding needs for local roads and bridges,
including sidewalks and other essential components; and
WHEREAS, the resulting 2014 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs
Assessment, which provides critical analysis and information on the local transportation
network's condition and funding needs, indicates that the condition of the local transportation
network is deteriorating as predicted in the initial 2008 study; and
WHEREAS, the results show that California's local streets and roads are on a path of
significant decline. On a scale of 0 (failed) to 100 (excellent), the statewide average pavement
condition index (PCI) is 66, placing it in the "at risk" category where pavements will begin to
deteriorate much more rapidly and require rehabilitation or rebuilding rather than more cost -
effective preventative maintenance if funding is not increased; and
WHEREAS, the results show that the City of San Luis Obispo's streets range from 66%
in a "Good" condition for local street category to only 54% for Arterial; and
WHEREAS, if funding remains at the current levels, in 10 years, 25 percent of local
streets and roads in California will be in "failed" condition; and
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Resolution No. 10656 (2015 Series) Page 2
WHEREAS, cities and counties need an additional $1.7 billion just to maintain a status
quo pavement condition of 66, and much more revenue to operate the system with Best
Management Practices, which would reduce the total amount of funding needed for maintenance
in the future; and
WHEREAS, models show that an additional $3 billion annual investment in the local
streets and roads system is expected to improve pavement conditions statewide from an average
"at risk" condition to an average "good" condition; and
WHEREAS, if additional funding isn't secured now, it will cost taxpayers twice as much
to fix the local system in the future, as failure to act this year will increase unmet funding needs
for local transportation facilities by $11 billion in five years and $21 billion in ten years; and
WHEREAS, modernizing the local street and road system provides well - paying
construction jobs and boosts local economies; and
WHEREAS, the local street and road system is also critical for farm to market needs,
interconnectivity, multimodal needs including bicycle, transit and pedestrian amenities, and
commerce; and
WHEREAS, police, fire, and emergency medical services all need safe reliable roads to
react quickly to emergency calls and a few minutes of delay can be a matter of life and death;
and
WHEREAS, maintaining and preserving the local street and road system in good
condition will reduce drive times and traffic congestion, improve bicycle safety, and make the
pedestrian experience safer and more appealing, which leads to reduce vehicle emissions helping
the State achieve its air quality and greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals; and
WHEREAS, restoring roads before they fail also reduces construction time which results
in less air pollution from heavy equipment and less water pollution from site run -off; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the local system, the state highway system needs an
additional $5.7 billion annually to address the state's deferred maintenance; and
WHEREAS, in order to bring the local system back into a cost - effective condition, at
least $7.3 billion annually in new money going directly to cities and counties; and
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Resolution No. 10656 (2015 Series) Page 3
WHEREAS, SB -16 (BEALL), Transportation Funding, as Amended on June 1, 2015,
proposes to address the crisis of insufficient transportation infrastructure maintenance funding by
modifying existing fuels taxes and vehicle registration and licensing fees to make it fairer to all
users of the transportation system; and
WHEREAS, State Legislators will return to the Capitol in August 2015 to discuss, in
special session, sustainable transportation funding initiatives including SB -16.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. The City strongly urges the Governor and Legislature to identity a
sufficient and stable funding source for Local Street and road and state highway maintenance and
rehabilitation to ensure the safe and efficient mobility of the traveling public and the economic
vitality of California.
SECTION 2. The City strongly urges the Governor and Legislature to adopt the
following priorities for funding California's streets and roads:
1. Make a significant investment in transportation infrastructure. Any
package should seek to raise at least $6 billion annually and should remain in
place for at least 10 years or until an alternative method of funding our
transportation system is agreed upon.
2. Focus on maintaining and rehabilitating the current system. Repairing
California's streets and highways involves much more than fixing potholes. It
requires major road pavement overlays, fixing unsafe bridges, providing safe
access for bicyclists and pedestrians, replacing storm water culverts, as well as
operational improvements that necessitate the construction of auxiliary lanes
to relieve traffic congestion choke points and fixing design deficiencies that
have created unsafe merging and other traffic hazards. Efforts to supply
funding for transit in addition to funding for roads should also focus on fixing
the system first.
3. Equal split between state and local projects. We support sharing revenue
for roadway maintenance equally (50150) between the state and cities and
counties, given the equally - pressing funding needs of both systems, as well as
the longstanding historical precedent for collecting transportation user fees
through a centralized system and sharing the revenues across the entire
network through direct subventions. Ensuring that funding to local
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Resolution No. 10656 (2015 Series)
governments is provided directly, without intermediaries, will accelerate
project delivery and ensure maximum accountability.
4. Raise revenues across a broad range of options. Research by the California
Alliance for Jobs and Transportation California shows that voters strongly
support increased funding for transportation improvements. They are much
more open to a package that spreads potential tax or fee increases across a
broad range of options, including fuel taxes, license fees, and registration fees,
rather than just one source. Additionally, any package should move California
toward an all -users pay structure, in which everyone who benefits from the
system contributes to maintaining it — from traditional gasoline - fueled
vehicles, to new hybrids or electric vehicles, to commercial vehicles.
5. Invest a portion of diesel tax and /or cap & trade revenue to high - priority
goods movement projects. While the focus of a transportation funding
package should be on maintaining and rehabilitating the existing system,
California has a critical need to upgrade the goods movement infrastructure
that is essential to our economic well - being. Establishing a framework to
make appropriate investments in major goods movement arteries can lay the
groundwork for greater investments in the future that will also improve air
quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
6. Strong accountability requirements to protect the taxpayers' investment.
Voters and taxpayers must be assured that all transportation revenues are
spent responsibly. Local governments are accustomed to employing
transparent processes for selecting road maintenance projects aided by
pavement management systems, as well as reporting on the expenditure of
transportation funds through the State Controller's Local Streets and Roads
Annual Report.
7. Provide Consistent Annual Funding Levels. Under current statute, the
annual gas tax adjustment by the Board of Equalization is creating extreme
fluctuations in funding levels — a $900 million drop in this budget year alone.
A transportation funding package should contain legislation that will create
more consistent revenue projections and allow Caltrans and transportation
agencies the certainty they need for longer term planning.
Page 4
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Resolution No. 10656 (2015 Series)
SECTION 3. That the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby:
Authorizes the Mayor to sign a letter (Exhibit A) indicating the City's support
for the Fix Our Roads Coalition and League of California Cities' Principles
for New Transportation Funding: and,
2. Authorizes the City Manager or her designee(s) to participate in the Fix Our
Roads Coalition in order to promote the City's interests in local transportation
funding and multimodal investment needs.
3. Supports SB -16 (Beall), as amended June 1, 2015, and recommends the
Legislature discuss the Bill and its funding provisions at the Special Session to
be held in August 2015.
Page 5
Upon motion of Vice Mayor Ashbaugh, seconded by Council Member Christianson, and on the
following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members Christianson, and Rivoire,
Vice Mayor Ashbaugh, and Mayor Marx
NOES: Council Member Carpenter
ABSENT. None
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 18th day
ATTEST:
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nthon M jia
City Clerk,
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Resolution No. 10656 (2015 Series) Page 6
APPROVED AS TO
P,Mistine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, this 2 day of A, sf , 7e-% , s
JA 1. 4—. t
thony ,
City Clerk
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