Number
101584
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
081726, 091030
Sponsor
ALD. WITKOWSKI
Title
Substitute resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s support for H.R. 1395, being an act of the U.S. Congress relating to the development of aerotropolis transportation systems.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee’s support for H.R. 1395, the Leading and Expediting Aerotropolis Development Act of 2011, and urges Congress to pass this legislation. H.R. 1395 would establish a federal grant program to assist planning, design, environmental review and land acquisition activities that benefit aerotropolis transportation systems,
Body
Whereas, An aerotropolis is a multi-modal freight and passenger transportation network and concentration of aviation/transportation-intensive businesses, usually located within 15 minutes of a major airport; and
Whereas, The aerotropolis development form is well-positioned to serve the needs for connectivity, speed and agility in the 21st century global economy; and
Whereas, Major cities across the world, including Beijing, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, are developing or have developed aerotropolis transportation systems that will enable them to compete with American cities to attract corporate headquarters, warehouses and logistics centers; and
Whereas, In the United States, several cities, including Detroit, Indianapolis and Milwaukee, are establishing aerotropolis transportation systems, but are hindered in their ability to do so by insufficient funding; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee has shown its support for development of an aerotropolis at and surrounding General Mitchell International Airport by:
1. Appropriating $10,000 from the 2009 Economic Development Committee Fund to the Airport Gateway Business Association, which is working to make Milwaukee an aerotropolis city (Common Council File 081726, adopted May 27, 2009).
2. Expressing the City’s support for the creation and operation of a non-profit organization, the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation, to coordinate the planning and development of a Milwaukee aerotropolis, and for the vision statement, mission statement, goals and founding principles of this organization (Common Council File 091030, adopted December 22, 2009).
; and
Whereas, In January, 2010, the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation was created, thereby establishing a a long-term planning effort which aims to create an efficient multi-modal transportation hub around the existing transportation assets within the region; and
Whereas, Through the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation, the City of Milwaukee is working collaboratively with suburban municipalities and with Milwaukee County to bring aerotropolis development to Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin, thereby positioning the region to be more competitive in the fast-paced global economy, creating jobs in the logistics and shipping industries, and approaching economic development with a regional perspective; and
Whereas, On April 6, 2011, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced H.R. 1395, the Leading and Expediting Aerotropolis Development Act of 2011 (co-sponsored by Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Rep. Hansen Clarke of Michigan), which would establish a grant program to assist the development of aerotropolis transportation systems; and
Whereas, H.R. 1395 directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to make grants available to eligible entities to assist planning, design, environmental review and land acquisition activities that benefit aerotropolis transportation systems, including projects for the:
1. Development or improvement of highways, bridges or public transportation systems.
2. Expansion of capacity or other improvements to freight or passenger rail transportation.
3. Development or improvement of ports or access to port or terminal facilities.
4. Development or improvement of multimodal terminal facilities.
5. Development or improvement of intelligent transportation systems that primarily benefit the movement of freight and either reduce congestion or improve safety.
; and
Whereas, The Common Council finds that the City of Milwaukee, with its favorable location at the confluence of Interstate highways, 2 Class I railroads, a City-operated Great Lakes port and a major airport, could benefit greatly from federal funding for aerotropolis development; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee supports passage of H.R. 1395, the Leading and Expediting Aerotropolis Development Act of 2011, and urges all members of the U.S. Congress to support passage of this legislation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to each member of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB127237-2
Jeffrey D. Osterman
04/21/2011