Texas Mobility Fund

Forging New Solutions

 

 

 

“We must look to new transportation alternatives that can relieve congestion and improve our quality of life.” Governor Rick Perry

 

 

Texas Present and Future

 

Modernizing Texas’ transportation system to meet the state’s 21st century needs is one of the greatest challenges facing Texans. Although over the last half century Texas has emerged as the nation’s most urbanized state, the state’s transportation strategy remains largely unchanged from the post-World War II era when the chief transportation challenge was connecting farms to market and paving hundreds of miles of gravel highways. While an important investment in the age of the slide rule, this approach has long been unable to keep pace with or adapt well to the state’s 21st century transportation demands. The more roads we have built, the further we have fallen behind – and the more Texans and goods sit, stalled in congestion and waiting.  Recent polls show that Texans are tired of gridlock and want new solutions that will get them moving.  It is time for a change.

 

While the state’s gas tax revenues are dedicated to the Highway Fund (Fund 006) exclusively for state road “construction, maintenance, acquisition, and enforcement,” the more flexible Texas Mobility Fund can be a first step in crafting new solutions that get Texans moving. The Texas Mobility Fund can be used to develop toll roads and to fund “public transportation and other mobility options.”

 

To keep Texans moving and to fuel the state’s economic engines well into the 21st century, Texas must break from its roads-only past and “look to new transportation alternatives.” Dedicating a portion of the Texas Mobility Fund to transit, rail, and other public transportation options will the resources needed to invest in proven strategies that relieve congestion, improve quality of life, and keep people and goods moving safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively without tapping the Highway Fund.

Text Box: Just Transportation Alliances supports: · A Minimum guarantee of 20% of the Mobility Fund for investments in “public transportation and other mobility options” prior to appropriations Dedicating 20% of the Mobility Fund will keep all Texans moving: those languishing in congestion as well as the 1 in 5 who do not or cannot drive.
 

 


Millions of Texans Left Stuck and Stranded

 

Dedicating a portion of the Mobility Fund to projects, such as transit, rail, and other options will not only keep Texans moving, but also get the 20% of Texans - 2.86 million adults - who do not have reliable access to transportation moving, too.  Because many of these Texans cannot or do not drive because of disabilities, age, and/or income, the state’s “roads only” policy has ignored these taxpayers making going to work, getting their child to a doctor, or even going to the grocery store an everyday struggle. 

 

 

Strategic State Investment in Mobility


Because of the constitutional dedication of gas tax revenues, Texas budgets $5 billion a year for transportation with 97% of these state and federal dollars used to fund construction, acquisition, and maintenance. In the most recent biennium the legislature appropriated only $88 million for transit services, less than 1% of the state’s transportation budget.  While dedicating the Mobility Fund wholly to roads would do little to modernize Texas’ transportation system, it would be a historic increase in state support for transit and other mobility projects.  The benefits of this dedicated state investment in transit would be to grow more money, strategically positioning the state, regional, and local transportation entities when competing for additional federal funds. 

Text Box: Benefits of a Minimum Allocation Dedicated to “Public Transportation and Other Mobility Options” · Historic investment in public transportation and other mobility options, with little impact on road construction or maintenance · Provides much needed local and regional transportation funds to leverage for additional federal dollars · Strategically positions the state, regional, and local governments when competing for additional federal transportation dollars · Increases mobility for all Texans
 

 

 


Texas Must Forge New Solutions

 

With all indicators pointing to increasing congestion and federal revenues likely to remain static, if not decrease, Texas cannot continue to “build its way out.” Instead, as the challenges grow and multiply, new alternatives and solutions must be identified and crafted.  Smart, forward-thinking investments will require resources.  Without tapping into the gas tax revenues, dedicating 20% of the Texas Mobility Fund will not only provide the necessary resources for smart, forward-thinking innovations that benefit all Texans, but also signal a historic shift in our preparations for the challenges that face the state. 

 

Will Texas take advantage of this opportunity and invest in true mobility, or will it be business as usual, with more gridlock, more wasted hours in traffic and more stranded Texans?