ROADS/BRIDGES: More DOTs progress with infrastructure projects due to increased funding security

Nov. 16, 2015

More and more state DOTs are moving forward with infrastructure improvement projects thanks to state legislative actions to increase DOT revenues

A growing number of state DOTs are launching more infrastructure improvement projects, as a result of state legislative actions earlier this year to increase DOT revenues.

This comes at a time Congress appears close to completing its first long-term surface transportation bill in a decade, but with minor spending increases for the federal programs as lawmakers in Washington try to avoid raising revenue through tax hikes.

This month the Delaware and Georgia DOTs said they are getting more projects under way due to increased state funding.

Among the many project launches, DelDot recently broke ground on a $40 million grade separation overpass project to improve traffic flow and safety along Route 1 at Little Heaven, Del.

They said the work was partly made possible by recent legislation to raise $330 million over six years for the Transportation Trust Fund through higher motor vehicle fees, borrowing and general fund transfers.

In Georgia, the State Transportation Board approved the Georgia DOT's fiscal year 2016 amended and FY 2017 budget requests, which it sent to the governor and legislature for final approval. The board used the occasion to highlight the major revenue gains that came from action by state lawmakers this year.

"The budgets include increases in motor fuel funds," the board said, "a direct result of the passage of the Transportation Funding Act of 2015, which infuses an additional $757 million in the FY 16 amended budget and $820 million in the FY 17 budget requests."

Because of the General Assembly's measure, called HB 170, the amended budget for the current year includes $200 million more for such maintenance work as patching potholes, bridge joint repairs, pipe repairs, pavement preservation, litter pickup and mowing.

It includes an additional $519 million for capital projects like congestion reduction, mobility and major resurfacing projects. And it provides local governments with a $36 million increase for Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants.

The DelDOT and GDOT announcements follow the Idaho DOT's October report to residents that it is already completing the first road and bridge improvements paid for from increases in motor fuel taxes and vehicle fees approved by the Legislature this year.

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