HOUSE MEMORIAL 77

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Patricio Ruiloba and Patricia A. Lundstrom and

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales and Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez and Harry Garcia

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE WESTERN ROAD USAGE CHARGE CONSORTIUM REGIONAL SYSTEM DEFINITION AND PILOT PLANNING PROJECT AND TO PROPOSE LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT A MILEAGE-BASED USER FEE SYSTEM IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's aging transportation infrastructure is in dire need of improvements and presents a safety hazard to those traveling on the state's roads; and

     WHEREAS, improvements to New Mexico's transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges, are funded in large part by the state's gasoline tax; and

     WHEREAS, gasoline tax revenues are expected to decrease in the future as a result of increasing passenger vehicle fuel efficiency and increasing use of motor vehicles using alternative fuels; and

     WHEREAS, the use of hybrid electric or all electric motor vehicles will further reduce gasoline tax revenue; and

     WHEREAS, mileage-based user fees are an alternative means or supplemental means of raising revenue for transportation infrastructure improvements based upon the use of transportation infrastructure rather than the consumption of gasoline; and

     WHEREAS, the adoption of mileage-based user fees will help ensure that users of motor vehicles that use alternative fuels or electricity will pay their fair share of transportation infrastructure improvements; and

     WHEREAS, mileage-based user fee systems can utilize different options for tracking vehicle mileage, including odometer readings and automatic mileage reporting systems with or without general location data; and

     WHEREAS, the western road usage charge consortium is an organization that brings together leaders from state transportation organizations of fourteen western states, including New Mexico, to share best practices and research regarding mileage-based user fees; and

     WHEREAS, one western road usage charge consortium member state, Oregon, has enacted a policy to implement a mileage-based user fee system, and five other member states, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Washington and Utah, are currently testing mileage-based user fee pilot programs; and

     WHEREAS, the western road usage charge consortium is working on an innovative pilot project, the western road usage charge consortium regional system definition and pilot planning project, to develop and test a regional road usage charge system; and

     WHEREAS, eleven western road usage charge consortium member states are participating in the western road usage charge consortium regional system definition and pilot planning project, but New Mexico is not participating; and

     WHEREAS, federal funds are available to assist states in developing and implementing mileage-based user fee systems, including more than ten million dollars ($10,000,000) awarded to seven states by the federal highway administration in February 2019; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to become actively involved in researching and evaluating options for implementing mileage-based user fee systems in order to maintain sufficient funding for improvements to the state's transportation infrastructure;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be requested to actively participate in the western road usage charge consortium regional system definition and pilot planning project and research options for implementing mileage-based user fee systems that would be suitable for New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of transportation present its recommendations, including proposed implementing legislation, to the appropriate interim legislative committees by November 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and the secretary of transportation.

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