Texas Business Groups and Cities Support Dedicated Revenue Source for Transportation Funding – March 24, 2015

Texas Business Groups and Cities Support Dedicated Revenue Source for Transportation Funding

Borrowing no longer an option, we need a stable source of funding

 AUSTIN, TX—Texas trade associations, chambers of commerce, local governments and business leaders are encouraging state legislators to adopt legislation that would constitutionally dedicate revenue necessary to fund Texas highways and bridges.

An additional $5 billion is needed each year to keep existing traffic congestion and to maintain the state’s roadways, according to Texas A&M’s Texas Transportation Institute. That current funding gap is the result of stagnant revenue sources that have not increased in 24 years. Inflation, rising road construction costs and vehicles’ increasing fuel efficiency have reduced the spending power of that revenue

“The Texas Association of Business strongly supports the constitutional dedication of funds for transportation,” said TAB CEO Bill Hammond.  “We can no longer borrow to pay for new transportation projects.  We must have a steady and reliable source of money to build new projects and repair our roads.  Dedicating money will give us that steady and reliable source.”

Texans are clamoring for better and safer roads because they are tired of traffic congestion. They sent a loud and strong message in last fall’s election when voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1 with 80 percent support. The proposal to dedicate a portion (37.5 percent) of the state’s oil and gas production tax revenue for the state’s highway fund is expected to generate approximately $1.2 billion a year for Texas road and bridge construction and maintenance. While Prop 1 funding will help steer Texas in the right direction, it still leaves the state at least $4 billion a year short of funding necessary.

“Texas Realtors have a front row seat to the state’s population growth,” said Scott Kesner, Chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS. “It’s clear that traffic congestion and commute times are directly impacting the state’s commercial and residential settlement patterns.”

Gov. Greg Abbott is making transportation a top priority by calling for more than $4 billion a year to build more roads in Texas without raising taxes, fees, tolls or debt. The Senate’s recently passed SJR 5 and the House’s proposed HJR 13 constitutionally dedicate a portion of existing tax revenue to roads while continuing to contribute money to the state’s general fund for other needs.

Texas continues to lead the nation in creating jobs, but the state’s economic prosperity will become threatened with a highways system that cannot efficiently move people and goods. Building and maintaining roads are fundamental responsibilities and a core function of government. Texans expect to have safe, reliable highways and the state needs predictable, long-terms sources of revenue to accomplish this, according to various groups embracing a dedicated revenue source for the State Highway Fund.

“Corpus Christi is a growing city that supports passage of a dedicated long-term, sustainable funding source for transportation,” said Mayor Nelda Martinez of Corpus Christi. “Texas can no longer ignore its transportation infrastructure and the demands that a growing population puts on a system to move goods and people safely.”

The following groups and individuals support a constitutionally dedicated funding source for Texas highways:

Texas Association of Business

Texas Association of Builders

Texas Association of Manufacturers

Texas Food and Fuel Association

Texas Association of REALTORS

Texas Retailers Association

Texas Trucking Association

Texas Travel Industry Association

Southwest Movers Association

AGC of Texas Highway, Heavy and Utilities

American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas

Texas Business Leadership Council

Texas Real Estate Councils of Texas

Texas Grain Sorghum Producers

Texas Association of Dairymen

Texas Conference of Urban Counties

Texas Municipal League

Transportation Advocates of Texas

Move Texas Forward

Texas Infrastructure Now

Texas Good Roads Association

Texas Transportation Alliance

Ports-to-Plains Alliance

Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition

Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition

San Antonio Mobility Coalition

Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership

Transportation Advocacy Group – Houston

Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance

Austin Chamber of Commerce

Bay City Chamber of Commerce

Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce

Dallas Regional Chamber

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Frisco Chamber of Commerce

Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce

Greater Houston Partnership

Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce

Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce

Longview Chamber of Commerce

Lubbock Chamber of Commerce

McAllen Chamber of Commerce

North San Antonio Chamber

San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

Houstonians for Responsible Growth

Real Estate Council of Austin

Houston Real Estate Council

Port of Beaumont

City of Corpus Christi

City of Nacogdoches

City of San Antonio

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