HOUSE MEMORIAL 9

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia A. Lundstrom

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A CONTINUATION OF THE 2009 REVIEW OF THE STATE'S

CURRENT AND FUTURE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE FUNDING STRATEGIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

     WHEREAS, in 2007, House Memorial 35 was approved and in 2009, House Memorial 5 was approved and committees were formed to identify appropriate funding strategies for a sustainable transportation system; and

     WHEREAS, the committees formed pursuant to House Memorial 35 and House Memorial 5 convened numerous times and provided valuable input to the legislature regarding transportation funding; and

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

     WHEREAS, state and local transportation agencies continue to experience funding shortfalls due to decreases in revenues and the erosion of the purchasing power of revenues due to inflation, traffic increases and infrastructure growth; and

     WHEREAS, this situation continues to affect ongoing maintenance and operations for highway and street infrastructure as well as other forms of transportation; and

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

     WHEREAS, the state, counties, municipalities and tribes have different and equally compelling needs to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure;

     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, taxation and revenue department, 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, metropolitan planning organizations, New Mexico municipal league, New Mexico association of counties, New Mexico trucking association, other transportation and aviation associations, chambers of commerce and other interested business and community leaders; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the technical committee be requested to develop an education campaign to inform the residents of New Mexico on the current state of the transportation system and the importance of preserving, maintaining and enhancing the transportation infrastructure for the future of New Mexico and to recommend 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 results of this effort be submitted to the governor and the appropriate interim legislative committee no later than November 15, 2010; 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.

- 3 -