Number
100127
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
091030
Sponsor
ALD. WITKOWSKI
Title
Resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s support for H.R. 5236, federal legislation to ensure that projects that help establish aerotropolis transportation systems are eligible for funding under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee’s support for U.S. House of Representatives bill H.R. 5236, legislation to ensure that projects that help establish aerotropolis transportation systems are eligible for funding under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users, a federal funding and authorization bill that provides resources to maintain and improve the surface transportation system in the United States.
Body
Whereas, An aerotropolis is a form of urban development consisting of a multimodal transportation network centered on a major airport, together with a substantial concentration of businesses that depend on or benefit from the connectivity, speed and agility afforded by this transportation infrastructure; and
Whereas, Air commerce-related businesses that often locate in an aerotropolis include time-sensitive manufacturing, e-commerce fulfillment, telecommunications, logistics, offices and hospitality establishments (hotels and conference centers); and
Whereas, Aerotropolises have the potential to be powerful engines of economic growth and job creation in the urban regions in which they are developed; and
Whereas, Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, which is in close proximity to several major highways, two trunk railroads and the Port of Milwaukee, is ideally situated to foster development of an aerotropolis in southeastern Milwaukee County; and
Whereas, On December 22, 2009, the Milwaukee Common Council adopted File Number 091030, a resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s support for the creation and operation of a non-profit organization, the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation, which will work to coordinate the planning and development of a Milwaukee aerotropolis in the vicinity of General Mitchell International Airport; and
Whereas, Similar resolutions supporting creation of a Milwaukee aerotropolis have been adopted by the governing bodies of several of Milwaukee’s neighboring municipalities; and
Whereas, While the development of aerotropolises will help the United States remain competitive in the fast-paced, globally-networked economy, the American cities that are working to develop aerotropolises often lack the financial resources to make the complex infrastructure improvements necessary to create a full-fledged aerotropolis; and
Whereas, The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (“SAFETEA-LU”; Public Law 109-59) is a federal funding and authorization bill that contains a host of provisions and earmarks intended to maintain and improve the surface transportation system in the United States; and
Whereas, The use of SAFETEA-LU funding for aerotropolis-related projects is not explicitly authorized by the SAFETEA-LU legislation; and
Whereas, On May 6, 2010, U.S. Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced H.R. 5236 (co-sponsored by Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and others), a bill to amend SAFETEA-LU to ensure that projects that assist in the establishment of aerotropolis transportation systems are considered “eligible projects” under the SAFETEA-LU funding program; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee supports and urges passage of U.S. House of Representatives bill H.R. 5236; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk is directed to send copies of this resolution to all members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB10222-1
JDO
05/21/2010