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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 13-165 RESOLUTION NO. 13-165 A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS REQUESTING THAT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION- TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING DIVISION RESTORE CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT(CMAQ)/CATEGORY 5 FUNDING TO THE JEFFERSON- ORANGE-HARDIN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY (JOHRTS) AREA TO ALLOW FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CMAQ/CATEGORY 5 PROJECTS RECENTLY SELECTED BY THE SOUTH EAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION-METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (SETRPC-MPO). WHEREAS, the SETRPC-MPO for the JOHRTS area is the designated agency for transportation planning in Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin Counties in southeast Texas; and, WHEREAS, the SETRPC-MPO began a CMAQ Call for Projects in 2012 and selected a variety of projects from numerous sponsors that improve air quality and reduce congestion; and, WHEREAS„ the SETRPC-MPO complied with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)-Transportation Planning and Programming Division's (TPP) request to provide a plan of action to utilize the area's CMAQ allocation and completed that plan of action; and, WHEREAS, the CMAQ projects are identified in the Exempt Project JOHRTS Metropolitan Transportation Plan-2035 and the Exempt Project JOHRTS FY 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program; and, WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)approved the projects on June 12, 2013 as a part of the Texas Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) May 2013 Quarterly Revisions; and, WHEREAS, the SETRPC-MPO has diligently coordinated with TxDOT to advance the projects selected in the 2012 CMAQ Call for Projects; and, WHEREAS,the TxDOT-Beaumont District and project sponsors anticipated moving forward with implementation of these projects in FY 2014-2016 following FHWA approval of the STIP May 2013 Quarterly Revisions; and, WHEREAS, the SETRPC-MPO has been informed that these projects cannot be obligated due to a lack of funds in the 2014 UTP; and, WHEREAS, these projects are critical to the local entities in the JOHRTS area, improve air quality and mitigate congestion, as well as aid in economic development and improve safety in Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin Counties; and , NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: THAT the statements and findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby, in all things, approved and adopted; and, THAT the City of Beaumont hereby requests that TxDOT-TPP promptly restore CMAQ/Category 5 funding to the JOHRTS area to allow for the implementation of this important set of projects recently selected by the SETRPC-MPO. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 6th day of August, 2013. yor Becky Ames AT Uj AV