The general assembly finds that:

(1)  Rhode Island now has, and for some years has had, a serious shortfall of funds available for the upkeep, maintenance, and repair of the state’s highways, roads, and bridges.

(2)  Rhode Island now funds, and for some years has funded, the local twenty percent (20%) match required to bring federal transportation dollars into the state by means of selling bonds. This has proven unsustainable and creates unaffordable debt-service obligations for future generations of Rhode Island taxpayers.

(3)  The health, safety, and convenience of Rhode Island’s citizens are seriously and adversely affected when the state’s highways, roads, and bridges are not kept in a proper state of upkeep, maintenance, and repair.

(4)  A critically important function of the state in maintaining the health, safety, and welfare of all the people of Rhode Island is to ensure the proper upkeep, maintenance, and repair of the state’s highways, roads, and bridges.

(5)  Rhode Island must consider all potential sustainable sources as a vehicle for maintaining and improving the transportation infrastructure of the state.

(6)  Additional stable and secure funding sources are absolutely necessary in order for the state to carry out its essential functions, including the upkeep, maintenance, and repair of the state’s highways, roads, and bridges, and providing for the continued functioning and reliability of public transit. In order to avoid to the full extent possible the creation of enormous and unaffordable debt-service obligations for future generations of Rhode Islanders, these funding sources should be created on a pay-as-you-go basis, and bonding should be reduced to the fullest extent practicable.