HomeMy WebLinkAboutGeorgia Transit Association's 2003 Legislative Agenda
Augusta Richmond GA
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FILE NUMBER: 'G50 1
NUMBER OF PAGES: 3
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A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THE GEORGIA TRANSIT ASSOCIATION'S
2003 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
WHEREAS, increased pubic investment in transit services provides the potential
to create jobs and enhance business prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the nation, our communities and our citizens face the risk to health
and the environment that are brought on by automobile exhaust emissions; and
WHEREAS, transportation is vital to the quality of life and economic well-being of
the citizens of Augusta, Georgia and the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, workers, school children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and
those unable to afford an automobile use public transportation to gain access to jobs,
schools, medical facilities and otner fundamental services; and
WHEREAS, traffic congestion which wastes productive time can be alleviated
through the increased availability and use of public transportation to gain access to jobs,
schools, medical facilities and other fundamental services.
WHEREAS, the Georgia Transit Association (GTA) has prepared a
legislative agenda that recommends the following:
1. GTA appreciates the increasedappropriations to public transit, which improves air
quality and provides transportation alternatives to Georgia's citizens. GTA urges the
General Assembly to maintain the momentum and continue funding public transit,
both urban and rural, through thepassage of legislation creating a state
transportation infrastructure fee on motor fuel purchases. Such a fee could be used
for all modes of transportation and be made revenue neutral through the granting of
a TIF state income tax credit to Georgians.
2. GTA requests the General Assembly amend state law to assist local transit systems
in acquiring buses by allowing a stateparticipating share of 15%.
3. GTA recommends that the General Assembly appropriate funds for operating
assistance to Georgia's rural and urban transit systems. Such assistance would ease
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the burden on city and county property taxpayers who must now provide for transit
operating costs from this revenue source.
4. GTA urges the Georgia DO"0 local transit systems, and metropolitan planning
organizations to work together to maximize the flexing of STP and CMAQ funds to
transit. ,.
5. GTA respectfully recommends that the General Assembly consider legislation
allowing a state individual income tax credit for persons who purchase their own
transit fare cards or have other qualified personal mass transportation expenses.
This credit should be available only to the extent that employer subsidies for transit
ridership do not cover the costs of purchasing transit fare cards, and only to the
extent that such a credit is consistent with federal law.
6. GTA recommends the Georgia Department of Transportation continue to
seek a bus "earmark" on behalf of the state's smaller, non-metropolitan,
transit systems; begin to assist local transit systems by matching the local
share for federal funds so obtained; and consider exceeding the local
share.
7. GTA commends Congress on its support of TEA-21 and urges Congress to
reauthorize TEA 21 to include increased funding for transit, guaranteed
funding for transit, and an appropriate balance between transit and other
modes of transportation.
NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Augusta-Richmond County
Commission that Augusta, Georgia supports the Georgia Transit Association's
2003 Legislative Agenda.
Duly adopted this 3,N day of December 2002.
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Mayor
Clerk of Commission
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Potential Impact of Transportation Infrastructure Fee (TIF)
. Collection, Rebate and Distribution
FY 2001
TIF collections (60/0 of Retail Motor Fuel Sales)
$ 457.886 million
Georgia Household TIF Expenses
Assumptions:
12,500 miles/year/average vehicle
15 mpg/average vehicle
833 gallons purchased/year/average vehicle (12,500/15)
$1.20 average price/gallon of motor fuel in FY 2001
$1,000 per year in motor fuel purchases/average vehicle (833*$1.20)
$60 per year in TIF expenses/average vehicle ($1000* .06)
Georgia Vehicles/Household (based on resident personal income tax returns)
2,531,404 Joint return vehicles (2*1,265,702 Joint returns)
65,961 Separate return vehicles (1 *65,961 Separate returns)
1,308,449 Single return vehicles (1 *1,308,449 Single returns)
622,507 Head of Household return vehicles(1 *622,507 Horn returns)
4,528,321 Total Georgia Resident Hous'ehold vehicles
FY 2001 Georgia Resident TIF Rebate (4,528,321*$60)
$ 271.699 million
Potential Annual Distribution of TIF Revenues ($457.886 million)
City and County Governments (500/0)
Urban and Rural Transit Systems (250/0)
State Portion for Federal Matching Funds (12.50/0)
State Transportation Infrastructure Bank (12.5%)
$ 228.94 million
$ 114.47 million
$ 57.24 million
$ 57.24 million