08-017 RES - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

RESOLUTION NO. 08-17 CITY OF ELK RIVER A RESOLUTION REQUESTING COMPREHENSIVE ROAD AND TRANSIT FUNDING WHEREAS, all T\-1inncsota C0111111unities benefit fronl a sound, efficient and adec.l'.lately funded transportation systen1 that offers diverse 1110des of travel; and WH EREAS, the integrity of Ivlinnesota's transportation infrastructure is dependent upon long- ter111 planning and ongoing 111aintenance, both of \vh.ich require dedicated and sustainable revenue sources; and WHEREAS, h,Iinnesota leaders have not increased dedicated funding levels for roads, bridges and transit SYStC111S to keep pace \vith gro\ving costs and changing needs; and WHEREAS. transportation analysts in consultation \vith tl1C tvlinncsora Dcpart111cnt of ~rransportation ()\JnD 0"1) es Ulna te Ivlinnesota \vilI have to in1lcst an adclitional S 1. 5 billion per year in transportation in frastructure for tlle next ten years in order to lueet identified needs on l\'{innesota's state high\vays and bridges, county roads, city streets, ll1CtrO and rural transit systelTIS and local bridges; and WHEREAS, i\-1inncsota's transportation systen1 is failing to ll1CCt the capacity needs necessary to sustain population gro\vth and pr01110te econol1uc dcveloptuent; and WHEREAS, congestion, inefficient transportation SYStC111S and lack of transportation choices lead to greater dependence on foreign oil, increased environn1cntal degradation, and econonuc disadvantages for l'VIlllnesota's businesses and residents; and WHEREAS. 111any rural roads arc not built to 1110dern safety standards and are not l11ccting the needs of industries that depend on tlle ability to transport heavy loads; and WHEREAS, local cost participation requircl11cnts for trunk lugh\vay and county projects arc onerous and are contributing to strains on city budgets; and WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure ll1aintenance and ll11prOVC111ent costs significantly contribute to rising property taxes; and WH E REAS, insuffIcient state funding has delayed regionally significant road constrllction and reconstrllction projects across 1\linnesota; and WH EREAS, current funding for roads, bridges and transit systclns across all governluent levels in IvIinncsota is inadequate, and this under-inveSt111cnt dllTun.ishcs quality of life for Ivlinnesota residents and lunders Ivlinnesota's progress as a national busil1CSS) econonuc and civic leader.