HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 061306-V - Texas Rail RelocationRESOLUTION NO. Oh, 13 b & V
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR STATE
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION OF $200 MILLION
ANNUALLY TO THE TEXAS RAIL RELOCATION AND
IMPROVEMENT FUND
WHEREAS, freight and passenger mobility is critical to the economic prosperity and quality of life
in the state of Texas and the Austin -San Antonio Corridor; and
WHEREAS, population growth and increased international trade have combined to create both
freight movement and passenger vehicle congestion throughout the state of Texas and the Austin -
San Antonio Corridor; and
WHEREAS, the state's population has grown by 57% and the total passenger miles driven rose by
95% over the past 25 years, but highway lane miles increased by just 8% over the same period; and
WHEREAS, the Austin -San Antonio corridor's population has doubled over the last 20 years and is
expected to double again over the next 20 years; and
WHEREAS, NAFTA trade between the US and Mexico has grown to approximately $800 billion
annually and represents thousands of jobs in Texas and the Austin -San Antonio Corridor, and
WHEREAS, Interstate 35 has become the de facto NAFTA highway between the US, Mexico, and
Canada, used by over one million trucks per year involved in international trade; and
WHEREAS, a study by the Federal Highway Administration in 1999 found that over the entire
1700-mile length of Interstate 35 from Mexico to Canada, the highest vehicle counts, the most
traffic fatalities, the worst congestion, the lowest levels of service, and the lowest average speed -
per -mile were to be found in the Austin -San Antonio Corridor; and
WHEREAS, a freight rail line owned by Union Pacific directly parallels Interstate 35 through the
most congested portion of the Austin -San Antonio Corridor and was constructed over 120 years
ago and currently has nearly 200 at -grade crossings through the Corridor that represent
congestion, public safety, and hazardous materials risks within heavily populated areas of the
Corridor; and
WHEREAS, freight rail car traffic through the Corridor has doubled since the passage of NAFTA;
and
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation estimates that freight -movement trucking is
mcreasmg nationwide by 2% per year, increasing by 6% per year statewide, but increasing by 15%
per year in the Austin -San Antonio Corridor; and
Resolution No. 0 (013 Olo _ V
Rail Relocation and Improvement
Page 1 of 2 Pages
•
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Texas has passed and the public has approved by
election the constitutional amendment creating the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund;
and
WHEREAS, $200 million appropriated annually to the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement
Fund could be used to create a total bonded funding capacity for the Fund of at least $2 billion
over the next decade; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund could be used throughout the State
to relieve traffic congestion, improve freight movement mobility, remove hazardous materials
from the heavily -populated areas of urban Texas, and thus improve the economy and quality of
life in Texas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT
SECTION 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this resolution are
hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference herein and
expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim The City Council hereby finds that this
resolution implements the following policies of the Century Plan - Policy Plan Element:
1. Policy Statement 9.0, which states: "Citizens and commercial goods move safely
and efficiently throughout all parts of the City;" and
Policy Statement 14.0, which states: "A high level of cooperation and
mvolvement exists among Georgetown's citizens and governmental
organizations."
SECTION 2.. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
RESOLVED this 13th day of June, 2006.
A 1"1
Gary N • on, Mayor Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary
APP OVED AS TOJ�FORM:
mcveD
Patricia E. Carls, Brown and Carls, L.L.P.
City Attorney
Resolution No. 04 13 d L - V
Rail Relocation and Improvement
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