RESOLUTION NO.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION:

1) SUPPORTING THE FINDINGS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE STUDY ENTITLED, “CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE LOCAL STREETS AND ROADS NEEDS ASSESSMENT”;

2) AUTHORIZING THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SEND A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION TO THE GOVERNOR AND EACH STATE LEGISLATOR INVOLVED WITH TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND BUDGET MAKING DECISIONS;

3) AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVENOR AND EACH STATE LEGISLATOR INVOLVED WITH TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND BUDGET MAKING DECISIONS, SUPPORTING STABLE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AND OPPOSING FUTURE CUTS TO VITAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

 

    WHEREAS, cities and counties own and operate over 81% of the roads in California, where every trip begins and ends, and the local system is critical for safety and mobility of the traveling public, farm to market needs, multimodal needs, and commerce; and

 

WHEREAS, the local street and road system provides two-fold opportunity for economic recovery during the worst fiscal crisis in California in decades. The maintenance and preservation of the local transportation network provides both public and private sector jobs and thus supports economic recovery in every corner of the State. Furthermore, well maintained infrastructure is critical for economic development by attracting businesses and providing for the safe and efficient movement of both people and goods; and

 

WHEREAS, while Federal and State governments regularly assess their transportation system needs, no such data existed for the local component of the State’s transportation network; and

 

WHEREAS, the California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment (Study) provides critical analysis and information on the local transportation network’s condition and funding needs; and

 

WHEREAS, the Study surveyed all of California’s 58 counties and 478 cities in 2007-08, resulting in data that represents 93% of local street and road miles in the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the results show that California’s local streets and roads are on a path of significant decline. On a scale of zero (failed) to 100 (excellent), the statewide average pavement condition index (PCI) is 68, placing it in the “at risk category”; and

 

    WHEREAS, if current funding remains the same, the statewide condition is projected to deteriorate to a PCI of 58 in ten years, and further to 48 (poor) in 25 years; and

 

    WHEREAS, the average PCI for the roads within the County of San Mateo was reported in the Study as having a PCI of 70, while the roads within the unincorporated areas of the County of San Mateo currently have an average PCI of 68; and

 

    WHEREAS, ongoing road maintenance is a significant public safety concern. Maintaining the paved road network (pothole filling, sealing, overlays, etc.), traffic signals, signs, and street lights have a direct correlation to improving public safety thus reducing traffic accidents, injuries and deaths; and

 

    WHEREAS, to spend the taxpayer’s money cost-effectively, preserving and maintaining the local system in good condition, or at a level of best management practices, is less costly in the long term; and

 

    WHEREAS, in order to bring the local system into a cost-effective condition, thereby preserving the public’s $271 billion pavement investment and stopping further costly deterioration, at least $7 billion annually ($5.17 billion for pavements and $1.97 billion for essential roadway components annually) in new money going directly to cities and counties over a period of ten years is needed to stop the further decline and deterioration of our streets and roads; and

 

    WHEREAS, the Department has estimated that the County will have a funding shortfall of $62,400,000 over the next 10-year period based on a presumed budget level of $3.5 million per year for pavement investments.

 

    WHEREAS, this Board finds that it is in the best interest of the County to support the Study and the findings contained in the Study, because implementation of the findings is likely to enhance the public safety of our communities, maintain roads in a cost effective manner, and supports the need for adequate and secure funding for roads as they represent a significant investment and are an integral part of the transportation system for the public.

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that:

 

1.

This Board, in the best interest of the County, supports the findings of the California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment.

   

2.

This Board authorizes the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to send a copy of this resolution to the Governor and each State Legislator involved with transportation policies and budget making decisions.

   

3.

This Board authorizes the President of the Board of Supervisors to send a letter to the Governor and each State Legislator involved with transportation policies and budget making decisions, expressing opposition to future cuts to vital transportation funding such as Proposition 42 and the Highway User Tax Account and strongly supporting adequate and stable funding for local street and road maintenance and rehabilitation.

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