00 CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15(FIN) 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 the Federal Highway Administration has adopted a regulation requiring 07 that a major investment study be undertaken by metropolitan planning organizations whenever 08 the need for a major metropolitan transportation investment is identified; and 09 WHEREAS the major investment study requirement overlaps and duplicates planning 10 and project development processes that are already in place under requirements for long-range 11 planning and congestion management systems; and 12 WHEREAS Congress should retain the critical role of the federal government to help 13 fund highway, bridge, ferry, and transit projects and to focus the national transportation policy 14 on mobility, connectivity, integrity, safety, and economic competitiveness; and 15 WHEREAS the State of Alaska receives money under ISTEA for construction and 16 improvement of roads, highways, and the marine highway system and for bridge replacement 17 and rehabilitation, state and metropolitan transportation planning, transit programs, highway 18 safety programs, and enforcement of truck and bus safety requirements; and 19 WHEREAS the state also receives assistance under ISTEA for transportation projects 20 to alleviate air pollution in two areas of the state where air quality does not meet national 21 ambient air quality standards; and 22 WHEREAS 4,300 miles, or about 32 percent of the total mileage, of roads in the state 23 are eligible for federal assistance under ISTEA; and 24 WHEREAS the State of Alaska has relied heavily on federal assistance to support 25 construction and improvement of the surface transportation system in the state; and 26 WHEREAS continued federal assistance is essential to the establishment of the surface 27 transportation system in the state; and 28 WHEREAS the existing surface transportation system in Alaska needs significant 29 repair and maintenance in order to remain a safe and efficient system; and 30 WHEREAS surface transportation in Alaska is subject to extreme Arctic and sub- 31 Arctic climate and soil conditions; and 01 WHEREAS the State of Alaska cannot maintain or expand the surface transportation 02 system in Alaska without continued federal assistance; and 03 WHEREAS the funding authorizations for federal assistance and transportation 04 programs under ISTEA will expire September 30, 1997; 05 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 06 Congress to reauthorize the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 07 (ISTEA) as soon as possible; and be it 08 FURTHER RESOLVED the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 09 Congress to authorize increased funding for surface transportation projects under ISTEA, if 10 possible, but, in any case, to maintain the current levels of funding available under ISTEA; 11 and be it 12 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 13 Congress to allow for a portion of the enhancement set aside funds to be used to maintain or 14 improve pioneer access trails and historical roadways; and be it 15 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 16 Congress to allow for a portion of the enhancement set aside funds to be used to maintain 17 trails and other facilities that are constructed under that program; and be it 18 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 19 Congress to authorize greater use of ISTEA funds for maintenance and repair of existing roads 20 and highways; and be it 21 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 22 Congress to eliminate the requirement for major investment studies under 23 C.F.R. 450.318 23 as part of the reauthorization of ISTEA; and be it 24 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the 25 Congress to authorize greater flexibility in the construction of low volume roads suited to 26 Alaska's remoteness and sub-Arctic and Arctic environment. 27 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Al Gore, Jr., Vice-President 28 of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Newt Gingrich, Speaker 29 of the U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable John McCain, Chair, Committee on 30 Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate; and the Honorable Bud Shuster, Chair, 31 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable 01 Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; and to the Honorable Ted 02 Stevens and the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, 03 U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.