HOUSE MEMORIAL 5

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales

FOR THE NEW MEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A CONTINUATION OF THE 2008 REVIEW OF THE STATE'S CURRENT AND FUTURE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE FUNDING STRATEGIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

     WHEREAS, in 2008, House Memorial 35 was approved and a committee was formed to identify appropriate funding strategies for a sustainable transportation system; and

     WHEREAS, the committee formed pursuant to House Memorial 35 convened numerous times in 2008 and provided valuable input to the legislature regarding transportation funding; and

     WHEREAS, problems and concerns that were studied by the committee are serious and ongoing; and

     WHEREAS, the department of transportation continues to experience increased construction costs attributed to inflation of materials, including fuel, steel, concrete, asphalt and petroleum products, that are used in highway projects; and

     WHEREAS, inflation of these same material costs continues to affect the ongoing maintenance efforts for the highway infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, the residents of the state are increasingly dependent on alternative modes of public transportation; and

     WHEREAS, federal funding for federal aid construction projects remains significantly less than anticipated; and

     WHEREAS, the state road fund revenue is not growing at a rate comparable to the cost of inflation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of transportation be requested to appoint a technical committee whose members shall include representatives of the department of transportation, New Mexico division of the federal highway administration, associated contractors of New Mexico, American council of engineering companies of New Mexico, New Mexico passenger transportation association, regional planning organizations, municipal planning organizations and other transportation and aviation associations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the technical committee be requested to develop data and information regarding influences on the future outlook of transportation in New Mexico and alternative funding strategies to be available for use by decision-makers to aid in addressing sustainable transportation systems for New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the technical committee also study tying together land use and transportation improvements to provide for anticipated growth in jobs and housing while reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results of this study be submitted to the governor and the legislature no later than November 15, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of transportation and the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.

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