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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGEORGIA TRANSIT ASSOCIATIONS 2009 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA RESOLUTION Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 4 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE GEORGIA TRANSIT ASSOCIATION'S 2009 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 other 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 (GT A) has prepared a legislative agenda that recommends the following: 1. Alternative Transportation Revenue Sources: The need for additional financial resources for transit and other modes of transportation in Georgia remains greater than ever. The Georgia Transit Association (GT A) is an active member of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition (GGM) and joins GGM in making the following policy statement: "There is a need to create a new, coherent, and consistent transportation funding policy in Georgia. The promotion of economic development, environmental sustainability, air quality and safety underpin any successful policy." The 2008 Georgia General Assembly built upon the work of the Joint House-Senate Transportation Funding Study Committee and came very close to passage of legislation which would allow Georgians on a regional basis to impose a sales tax upon themselves for "all transportation purposes." In the past year GT A has joined GGM and others in advocating for some and proposing analysis of others of the following ways to provide alternative and other revenue sources for all modes of transportation. Some of these include: · A new sales tax funding mechanism that would be dedicated to providing congestion relief, improving air quality and promoting environmentally responsible economic development for all regions of the state. · Optimization of current revenue sources Item # 8 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 4 o Allocation of the fourth percent of the state sales tax user fee on motor fuel to all transportation purposes, including operating expenses for transit. o Examination of agreements governing the use of state-owned transportation facilities (e.g. existing leases) and dedication of revenue to appropriate transportation uses. . Innovative funding programs like concession/privatization of transportation facilities and public-private initiatives (PPI). GT A notes that while PPIs may be an option for some transit projects, they are but one of many approaches which could be employed in addressing overall transportation needs. In addition, some aspects ofthe PPI law do not allow transit as much flexibility as other transportation sectors. It is crucial that any new funding source for transportation be consistent with the following principles established by the Georgia Transit Association: · Purpose (use of proceeds) should include all modes oftransportation, including transit; . Allow for funding of existing operations; · Supplement, not replace, existing funding; and . Provide flexibility for regions of the state to address their transportation needs GTA also joins GGM in advocating that new revenue sources have a multi-year funding basis, be able to be implemented in the short-term, and be based on a fair system of geographical return on investment. GT A urges the General Assembly to seek alternative sources of revenue to increase funding for all modes of transportation, including capital and operating support of public transit systems, both urban and rural. All necessary options which supplement but do not replace current funding should be considered, and current financing laws should be reviewed to remove any barriers to the facilitation of transit projects. 2. Transit Operating Assistance: Georgia is one of nine states that do not partner with local and federal governments to support the operation of public transportation systems. In addition, Georgia is the only one of the ten most populous states that does not provide such support. While Georgia's transit buses and vans travel on a road system supported by the motor fuel tax, local transit systems do not have access to dedicated revenues. They must rely on local government operating subsidies, which typically are provided through local property taxes or general funds. Both urban and rural Georgia transit systems would benefit greatly from state-provided general operating assistance. Rural areas in particular would benefit from this assistance, as the rural governments often do not have the resources to provide the local operating match for general public trips. As a result, rural public health transit services are generally available only to human service agency clients. Urban transit systems- as is the case with rural transit- are struggling under the burden of the highest fuel prices ever experienced, and they continue to face funding challenges, including homeland security concerns. If Georgia were to provide operating assistance to local transit systems, it would join several southeastern states that provide such assistance, including Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. GT A recommends that the General Assembly appropriate a permanent source of funds for operating assistance to Georgia's rural and urban transit systems. 3. Tax Exemption from Motor Fuel Purchases by Transit Systems: Local governments in Georgia have few alternatives to the property tax for funding transit systems for capital or operational purposes. In passing HB 1035 in 2008 the General Assembly extended current law granting an exemption from taxes on Item # 8 Attachment number 1 Page 3 of 4 motor fuel purchases by transit systems until June 30, 20 10. This exemption is likewise authorized in 22 other states, thus helping transit systems to lower their operating costs. However, it would be helpful ifthe MFT exemption allowed Georgia's transit systems did not "sunset" every two years. This approach would be similar to that applied to other governmental entities in Georgia (e.g. counties, municipalities and the university system) whose sales tax exemptions do not have to be periodically extended by the General Assembly. GTA requests that the General Assembly enact legislation authorizing the long-term exemption from taxes paid on motor fuel purchases by transit systems. 4. Rural and Human Services Transportation Services Coordination and Funding: Presently, local governments and at least four state agencies have a role in health and social services transportation service delivery (including transit). These agencies - the Georgia Departments of Community Health, Human Resources, Labor, and Transportation - receive nearly $200 million per year in federal grants to transport individuals who have no other means of accessing services. Currently, coordination among these agencies is primarily on an ad hoc basis. The programs under which the state agencies operate are based largely on classifications of riders, which are established by the federal agency providing the federal funds. Depending upon the program, riders may be transported for such purposes as accessing medical appointments; going to senior centers and community mental health centers; and participating in job-training activities. This lack of coordination spurred the introduction and consideration of SB 402 in the 2008 General Assembly, and it is one ofthe reasons the governor has shown interest in creating a rural and human services transportation coordinating council. Despite increased demand on local government and human services transportation providers, there has not been a real increase in funding for human services transportation programs in Georgia since FY 200 I. Because of heavy demand and escalating costs, including high fuel prices, consumers in these programs are being encouraged to use public transit, paying regular fares, thereby putting increased pressure on transit providers. An appropriation to address the significant increase in demand and operating costs would enable human services transportation providers to better deliver the transportation services needed by their clients. GTA applauds the governor's interest in creation of a State Rural and Human Services Transportation Coordinating Council. If the governor declines to create a Council, GTA urges the General Assembly to again introduce and to pass legislation along the lines of that considered in 2008. No matter the genesis of such an entity, GTA recommends the Council review and make recommendations on a number of issues, including the delivery and coordination of transportation services; sharing of federal funding, vehicles and facilities; allowing human service transportation contractors to apply for state insurance; and determining the feasibility of a statewide specialized transportation assistance program to relieve the pressure on local transit systems and provide human services transportation to clients who are not eligible under existing programs. GTA also urges the General Assembly to appropriate additional funds to state agencies operating human services transportation programs to assist in coping with the increasing cost of providing human services transportation, such as the increased cost of motor fuel, vehicles, insurance, and growing trip demand 5. State Individual Income Tax Credit: In 1999, legislation was passed to give state corporate income tax credits to companies that provide certain qualified transportation fringe benefits, including the purchase of transit fare cards, to their employees. There is no such incentive for other employees-like government workers- to increase their use of transit. HB 307, which was introduced in the 2007 General Assembly, would have allowed an individual to claim a maximum of $300 as a credit on his or her individual income tax for "qualified personal mass transportation expenses." The Get Georgia Moving Coalition has joined GT A in supporting this concept. Item # 8 , ' Attachment number 1 Page 4 of 4 GTA urges the reintroduction and General Assembly passage of legislation allowing a state individual income tax credit of up to $300 for persons who purchase their own transit fare cards or have other qualified personal mass transportation expenses. 6. Regional Transportation Planning and Coordination: In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the needs of rural transit systems as well as a movement toward regionalization of transit services across the state. This is evidenced by the creation of the Transit Planning Board (TPB) in the metropolitan Atlanta area and the establishment of a regional approach to transit in some rural areas of the state by partnering with regional development centers. provide examples of how regional planning can be accomplished statewide. This regionalization of public transportation services has occurred with little to no overarching organizational framework or statewide strategy. The establishment of regional transportation planning organizations or transit districts would permit the continued beneficial trend toward regionalization in a more coordinated and organized fashion. GTA applauds the creation of the metro Atlanta Transit Planning Board and recommends that the state move toward a comprehensive, regionalized transportation planning process with the establishment of regional planning districts statewide. 7. SAFETEA-LU: Federal Appropriations for Transit: The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed in 2005 and is now in effect. Its reauthorization will be considered in 2009 by Congress. A number of states, including Georgia, continue to seek federal appropriations earmarks for bus acquisition. Statewide earmarks especially benefit smaller systems that have not been able to obtain federal discretionary bus money on their own on a regular basis. In addition, several smaller urban transit systems, including some in Georgia, have transitioned into a new category serving populations of 200,000 or more and as a result, are now precluded from using federal funds for operational purposes. The reauthorization ofSAFETEA-LU should address all of these issues GTA urges the Georgia Congressional Delegation to support reauthorization ofSAFETEA-LU and to work for continued increases in "guaranteed funding" for transit formula programs and earmarks for Georgia transit providers in both urban and rural areas of our state. GTA also requests that the delegation support which allows smaller transit systems to use SAFETEA-LU funds for operational purposes. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Augusta-Richmond County Commission that Augusta, Georgia, supports The 2009 Georgia Transit Association Legislative Agenda. Duly adopted this ~ :L day ofJanuary, 2009. The Augusta Richmond County Commission BY: (a~ fr ( Deke Copenhaver, Mayor By: ., " ~>1 . '.'1 },; ~: !i.; ,~ v~, ';;; .~, :.: ;~/ ~~~ ';. ;\, ,/ J/ ~t".. <':'00 \,', :tr/ /~~ v\{~ eDQ'~"<z<. CJ:-:"~" ..,,:~I/ tj~ ,.....~~... ,M':::'''- "(~~~~)~.~G. :.~~'G~;,~,:~::::::'~ \-.l:'"oI."iJ:...~'t.:7."';,,- Item # 8 " (. ",......'...'