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Home My WebLink AboutRESOLUTIONS - 12071982 - 82/1435" ~ THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 7, 1982 by the following vote: f;__s. "2, I JI 11\YES: Superviso:rs Powers, Fahden, Schroder, Torlakson and McPeak NOES: ABSENT: -- ABSTAIN: SUBJECT: Support the Administration's ) Proposal to Increase the ) Current Four-Cent Federal ) RESOLUTION NO. 82/1435 Gas Tax by an Equivalent ) of Five-Cents in User Fee ) Increases. ) ) The Public Works Director on the November 30, 1982 at the request of the Board of Supervisors has reviewed the proposal by the Secretary of Transportation to increase transportation user fees by five cents per gal l on and has indicated that the proposed increase in highway user fees would boost revenues from $7.5 billion to $13 billion nationally. As currently proposed, 80 percent of the new funds would go to completing and restoring the 35,000-mile Interstate Highway System, and 20 percent will be available for transit projects. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that this increase will create approximately 300,000 new jobs. While providing substantial increases in funds for completion and rehabil- itation of the nation's Interstate and Primary Systems, the proposed new highway bill provides no funds for local street and road needs. The bill will, however, allow the current Urban and Secondary programs to remai n at their current levels. The Public Works Director recommends the Board of Supervisors support the Federal Gas Tax increase of five-cents per gallon with the following reservations: The current proposal does not change the formula for allocation of Primary system monies. The exi i;ting allocation formula is antiquated and in need of revision. California currently receives only a small share of the nation's Primary aid program monies (six percent in 1980/1982) in spite of its ranking as the most populous state in the nation, with 10.4 percent of the population. The current antiquated formula considers, among other things, the "pro-rat a mail route mileage", a figure that apparentl_y is no longer being collected by the United States Postal Service. The Primary system allocations formula needs to be changed. The Federal Highway Program currently contains approximately 36 programs, 16 of which are utili,:ed in California. The programs include "Hazard El imi nation", "Forest Highways", and "Removal of Outdoor Advertising", as well as the more familiar "Interstate", "Primary", "Urban", and "Bridge R,eplacement" Programs. One current proposal being discussed in Washington would continue the "Interstate", "Primary", and "Bridge Replacement" Programs, but consolidate all others into a single program to be administered at the state and local level. It is currently estimated that at least two cents of the proposed increase in highway user fees would need to be returned as a "block grant" in order to fund these programs at their current levels. Because of the increase in local control, as well as improved fl exibility, the Board should support the "block grant" concept provided, however, that at least two cents of the increase passed directly back to the states. ~.,_ /~'/J.S I -z,,ll Under the current proposal, 20 percent of the additional revenues (one cent) would be earmarked for transit purposes. Given the County's growing dependence upon transit as an alternate to the single occupancy vehicle, the Board should also support this aspect of the proposed legislation provided, however 9 that there ar e no restrictions in the legislation against new transit starts. Given the desire to create jobs in the shortest time possible, the Board should recommend consideration be given to making at least two cents of the five cents available for expenditure on projects that could be advertised lby July 1, 1983 .. This would be similar to the Economic Development Act (EDA) program administered by the Department of Commerce that Contra Costa County participated in a few years ago. Already identified projects on the FAI, FAP, FAU, or FAS systems, or previously identified bridge replacement projects should be allowed to proceed ahead of other projects, provided that they could be underway within 180 days. Projects should be environmentally clean (i.e., exempt, negative declaration, or already certified EIR) and require little or no right of way. Many local agencies, including Contra Costa County, have "shelf" projects ready (or nearly ready) to go to b·id. These projects could provide irrrnediate employment opportunities for the residents of Contra Costa County. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board SUPPORT the Adminis- trat i on's current proposal to increase the current four-cent federal gas tax by an equivalent of five-cents in user fee increases provided that the new funds are not unduly restricted by program type, and, in the case of transit, there be no restrictions against new starts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board AUTHORIZE the Chair to forward a letter to our congressional delegation advising of our County's support of the increase in highway user fees, as well as our suggestion that a portion of the funds be made available for local projects in an effort to quickly address the current high unemployment situation. I hereby certify that this le a true and co"ect copy of an action t af,~n one! entered on the minutes of the Bo,,ircJ of S:.i::i(',·,!2-.~rz 0r1 !fw C:atc zllown. A., • ..,.;;:-(~·:"r ,··:, ~ 7 / 0, <? :z__ II I .... ,c;:. i _,.,,, ---·------ti·_.__-------- J.'.l. C<:.S.2,:)~,5, Ct)l,;NTY ClEP.K and PJ<, ohic!c Clerk of the Board IBy , Z::: . -. v-s F• w , Deputy ORIG. DEPT.:' Public Works Transportation Planning cc: County Administrator Public Works Director Planning Director MTC -John McCa 11 um ,,../_,.;.., Aw. RESOLUTION NO. 82/1435