Res 0652-2015

By Council Members Rodriguez, Miller, Chin, Koo, Mendez, Rosenthal, Rose, Van Bramer, Maisel, Greenfield, Kallos and Levin Whereas, The current federal surface transportation funding law, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), as amended and extended by the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014, expires on May 31, 2015; and Whereas, President Barack Obama and U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx have proposed a new transportation funding bill, the Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America (GROW AMERICA) Act; and Whereas, The GROW AMERICA Act would increase transportation funding by $87 billion over four years; and Whereas, The proposal includes $72 billion worth of investment in public transportation, representing an increase in average transit spending of nearly 70 percent above Fiscal Year 2014 enacted levels, a vital infusion of funds for a city like New York, which relies significantly on mass transit; and Whereas, In addition to providing for the maintenance, repair, and modernization of America's roads, bridges, and transit systems, the GROW AMERICA Act would create millions of new jobs, help America stay competitive in the global economy, and increase opportunity and access for millions of Americans; and Whereas, It would also increase safety across all modes of surface transportation and strengthen local decision-making regarding transportation funding, empowering local communities; and Whereas, The GROW AMERICA Act would provide the investment necessary to maintain and expand the safe, efficient, and modern transportation and mass transit system that New York City needs in order to grow and thrive; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, the GROW AMERICA Act. LS# 3731 1/16/2015 SF/jm