2004 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
TRANSPORTATION

Staff Contact: Tom Minnick

Following is The Business Council's 2004 Legislative Program for Transportation. It identifies priority issues to be addressed by the Committees and Councils during 2004.

• Support efforts that insure maximum funding for New York transportation programs, continued funding under TEA-21 re-authorization, and infrastructure investment encompassing all modes of transportation necessary for the economic success of New York State's businesses and industry.
  
  
• Support legislation to continue existing levels of Dedicated Highway Trust Fund. In this regard, dedicated highway user fees must be used only for the purpose of improving the state's road and bridges and should be held accountable to the public.
  
  
• As New York's current transportation infrastructure funding plan is being reviewed and updated, the state must adopt a forward-looking plan that will sufficiently address needed repairs to its roads, bridges and planned improvement projects.
  
  
• Support elimination of New York State's truck mileage tax provided that the amount of dedicated highway funding be maintained at or above current levels to allow for continued transportation infrastructure projects.
  
  
• Support funding parity between road and bridges and mass transit.
  
  
• Support a capital funding program for railway infrastructure projects and port development and federal support for port dredging initiatives.
  
  
• Support legislation that would eliminate the Petroleum Business Tax (PBT).
  
  
• Support legislation to promote the market penetration of advanced technology motor vehicles through incentive-based, market-driven strategies such as consumer tax credits, fueling infrastructure tax incentives, and research and development investment; oppose state legislation or regulations that would impose state-level limits or mandates on the emission of greenhouse gases from motor vehicles.
  
  
• Support the position that federal standards and requirements sufficiently provide for the safe transportation of hazardous materials.
  
  
• Support efforts to insure that New York's international border crossings and bridges are properly upgraded and improved and share in regional and national funding efforts.
  
  
• Oppose legislation that would increase the cost of shipping goods into New York, including legislation that would require the licensing by the state of federally licensed docking pilots.
  
  
• Oppose legislative bans on the use of creosote in New York’s transportation infrastructure.

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