GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1206

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Sponsors: Representatives Perdue, Woodard, McLaughlin, Greenwood, Creech, Church, Bowie, Foster, Balmer, and Barbee.

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Referred to:  Rules.

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April 12, 1989

A JOINT RESOLUTION URGING EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF MASS TRANSIT ACCOUNT REVENUES.
Whereas, the Surface Transportation Act of 1982 established a one cent (1¢) per gallon federal tax to fund mass transit capital costs; and
Whereas, this tax is referred to as the "Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund”or the "transit penny"; and
Whereas, this tax was intended to fund transit capital projects, including transit facilities and rolling stock, at the discretion of the Administrator of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the United States Department of Transportation; and
Whereas, a one cent (1¢) per gallon gasoline tax raises in excess of thirty-nine million dollars ($39,000,000) per year in North Carolina; and
Whereas, North Carolina has received an average of less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per year from the federal programs funded by the Mass Transit Account; and
Whereas, North Carolina has substantial unmet needs for public transportation and mobility;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  The North Carolina General Assembly urges the United States Department of Transportation, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, to recognize that the major mobility needs of the citizens of the State of North Carolina cannot be met solely with traditional public transportation solutions, and that a broadened definition of public transportation–to include ridesharing, demand management, and high occupancy vehicle lanes–would permit more appropriate responses to our low density development patterns.
Sec. 2.  The North Carolina General Assembly urges the United States Department of Transportation, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, to use the state of origin of the revenues as an important criterion in determining where discretionary grants made from the Mass Transit Account are directed.
Sec. 3.  The North Carolina General Assembly strongly urges Congress to:
(1)	Incorporate a provision requiring a minimum allocation of Mass Transit Account revenues based on each state's contribution to the Account into any future authorization of the Account; and
(2)	Structure future federal programs in such a way that state and local governments can exercise maximum flexibility in identifying and implementing specific surface transportation solutions appropriate to their needs.
Sec. 4.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the United States Congress representing North Carolina.
Sec. 5.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.