SJR 15: Relating to reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
00SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15 01 Relating to reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation 02 Efficiency Act of 1991. 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 05 (ISTEA) substantially revamped the federal-aid highway program and the federal 06 transportation program; and 07 WHEREAS ISTEA gave more flexibility to state and local governments to apply 08 innovative solutions to the transportation problems that they face; and 09 WHEREAS ISTEA has shifted the focus of the federal surface transportation program 10 toward preservation of highway and transit systems, increased efficiency of existing 11 transportation networks, and integration of transportation modes to enhance efficiency of the 12 transportation system; and 13 WHEREAS the states and regional and local governments have invested time and 14 energy in making ISTEA work and this investment should not be lost by significantly altering
01 the programs initiated by ISTEA; and 02 WHEREAS the ISTEA programs can be strengthened by allowing greater flexibility 03 between programs and within programs, by allowing greater flexibility to address maintenance 04 needs, by reducing time-consuming federal reviews, mandates, and sanctions, and by allowing 05 self-certification at the state level; and 06 WHEREAS Congress should retain the critical role of the federal government to help 07 fund highway, bridge, ferry, and transit projects and to focus the national transportation policy 08 on mobility, connectivity, integrity, safety, and economic competitiveness; and 09 WHEREAS the State of Alaska receives money under ISTEA for construction and 10 improvement of roads, highways, and the marine highway system and for bridge replacement 11 and rehabilitation, state and metropolitan transportation planning, transit programs, highway 12 safety programs, and enforcement of truck and bus safety requirements; and 13 WHEREAS the state also receives assistance under ISTEA for transportation projects 14 to alleviate air pollution in two areas of the state where air quality does not meet national 15 ambient air quality standards; and 16 WHEREAS 4,300 miles, or about 32 percent of the total mileage, of roads in the state 17 are eligible for federal assistance under ISTEA; and 18 WHEREAS the State of Alaska has relied heavily on federal assistance to support 19 construction and improvement of the surface transportation system in the state; and 20 WHEREAS continued federal assistance is essential to the establishment of the surface 21 transportation system in the state; and 22 WHEREAS the existing surface transportation system in Alaska needs significant 23 repair and maintenance in order to remain a safe and efficient system; and 24 WHEREAS the State of Alaska cannot maintain or expand the surface transportation 25 system in Alaska without continued federal assistance; and 26 WHEREAS the funding authorizations for federal assistance and transportation 27 programs under ISTEA will expire September 30, 1997; 28 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 29 Congress to reauthorize the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 30 (ISTEA) as soon as possible; and be it 31 FURTHER RESOLVED the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the
01 Congress to authorize increased funding for surface transportation projects under ISTEA, if 02 possible, but, in any case, to maintain the current levels of funding available under ISTEA; 03 and be it 04 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 05 Congress to authorize greater use of ISTEA funds for maintenance and repair of existing roads 06 and highways. 07 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President 08 of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Newt Gingrich, Speaker 09 of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable John McCain, Chair, Committee on 10 Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate; and the Honorable Bud Shuster, Chair, 11 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable 12 Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; and to the Honorable Ted 13 Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, 14 U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.