2004 Yellow Book
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Summary)
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Adjusted
Appropriation
2003-04
Executive
Request
2004-05
Change Percent
Change


AGENCY SUMMARY

General Fund 161,616,000 111,616,000 (50,000,000) -30.9%
Special Revenue-Other 1,580,798,000 1,674,698,000 93,900,000 5.9%
Special Revenue-Federal 43,540,000 45,245,000 1,705,000 3.9%
Federal Capital Projects Fund 1,697,000,000 1,706,000,000 9,000,000 0.5%
Dedicated Mass Transportation Trust Fund 59,427,000 61,295,000 1,868,000 3.1%
Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund 1,702,809,000 1,563,255,000 (139,554,000) -8.2%
Internal Service Fund 4,504,000 4,040,000 (464,000) -10.3%
Fiduciary 50,000,000 50,000,000 0 0.0%

Total for AGENCY SUMMARY: 5,299,694,000 5,216,149,000 (83,545,000) -1.6%

* 2000-01 through 2002-03 reflect enacted appropriations.
* 2003-04 and 2004-05 reflect Executive recommended appropriations.



 

ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL
BUDGETED FILL LEVELS
Fund Current
2003-04
Requested
2004-05
Change


All Other Funds: 9,538 9,499 (39)

TOTAL: 9,538 9,499 (39)

Budget Highlights

The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains and improves the State’s more than 40,000 highway lane miles and 7,500 bridges. In addition, the Department partially funds locally operated transit systems, local government highway and bridge construction, rail, and airport programs.

The agency is included in the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation appropriation bill.

The Executive recommends a total All Funds appropriation of $5,216,149,000 for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2004-05. This amount represents a decrease of $83,545,000, or 1.6 percent, from SFY 2003-04 appropriation levels.

The Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) is federal legislation (Public Law 105-178) that expired September 30, 2003 and received a five-month extension through February 2004. Federal funding for capital projects in the Executive’s proposed budget are based on hopes of receiving not just a continuation of current federal funding levels, but a $200,000,000 increase. If the Executive’s optimistic assumptions are not realized, then the State’s transportation capital program will be adversely impacted.

State Operations

In SFY 2004-05, the Executive recommends State Operations appropriations totaling $39,928,000, a decrease of $2,542,000, or 6 percent, from SFY 2003-04 levels. The Executive proposes to reduce the current workforce of full- time equivalent positions (FTEs) from 9,538 to 9,499 by the end of SFY 2004-05. The Executive expects to achieve the workforce reduction through normal attrition.

Aid To Localities

The Executive proposes a total SFY 2004-05 appropriation of $1,795,671,000, an increase of $47,683,000, or 2.7 percent, from SFY 2003-04. Operating aid to transit systems throughout the State is the largest component of DOT’s Aid to Localities budget. The Executive recommends Aid to Localities appropriations totaling $1,779,557,000 for transit aid for SFY 2004-05, a $46,200,000 increase over SFY 2003-04 levels. The increase is due to increased funding by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from the Dedicated Mass Transportation Trust Fund (DMTTF). The DMTTF is supported by portions of the Petroleum Business Tax (PBT), motor fuel taxes and motor vehicle fees. All other transit systems would receive the same level of funding as received in SFY 2003-04.

Proposed transit aid for the MTA is $1,505,287,000. For non- MTA downstate transit systems, the Executive proposes $162,958,000 in transit aid. Upstate transit systems would receive $111,312,000.

Capital Projects

The Capital Program of the DOT is a five year plan to improve and rehabilitate critical components of the State’s transportation infrastructure by providing funds for State and local roads and bridges, transit systems, the State’s freight and passenger rail network, airports, ports and canals. The Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund (DHBTF) is the largest component of the Capital Program. The DHBTF is comprised of revenues from petroleum business taxes, motor fuel taxes, motor vehicle registration fees, and other transportation related revenue.

The Executive forecasts that capital project appropriations for the 5 year period from SFY 2004-05 through SFY 2007-08 will total $16,418,309,000. The current highway and bridge construction letting level is $1,750,000,000 for SFY 2004-05. The Executive recommends cutting the letting level by $100 million, or 6.0 percent for SFY 2004-05.

Recommended funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) is $202,100,000, a $34,909,000, or 14.7 percent reduction from SFY 2003-04. The CHIPs program provides funding to municipalities for local highway capital projects. Similar to SFY 2003-04, the Executive Budget does not include any appropriations for CHIPs Operating and Maintenance (O&M) aid.

The Municipal Streets and Highways Program (“Marchiselli”) would receive proposed funding of $39,700,000, equivalent to the SFY 2004-05 appropriation. These local highway and bridge programs are funded through the DHBTF.

The Executive proposes $9,000,000 for the Industrial Access Program for SFY 2004-05, equivalent to SFY 2003-04. However, the proposed appropriation does not include language affirming current program provisions.

Article VII

The Executive proposes legislation to:

  • increase the number of divisible load permits authorized to be issued by the DOT from 17,000 to 21,000 in SFY 2004-05 and up to 25,000 by January 1, 2009;
  • set a fee of $900 for permits issued to vehicles with seven or more axles which is projected to generate $1,500,000 in new revenue for the DHBTF and $750,000 in revenue for the General Fund in SFY 2004-05;
  • require new safety equipment and axle configuration for certain categories of trucks, and further restrict crossings on weight-restricted bridges;
  • establish a new consolidated statewide fine schedule for vehicle weight violations, while retaining the current New York City fine schedule for a 90-day phase-out period;
  • authorize CHIPs and Marchiselli capital funding.

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