Study: How to Increase Federal Highway Investment by $10 Billion a Year Without a Tax Increase

/PRNewswire/ -- Where can we find the money to modernize and maintain our major highways? The federal government would have an additional $10 billion a year to spend on crucial highways if it stopped diverting federal gas tax money to projects with no national benefits, according to a new Reason Foundation study.

The federal gas tax was supposed to be used to build and maintain the Interstate Highway System. Today auto and truck drivers pay federal gas taxes that are diverted to ferryboats, trails and mass transit programs. Since these other programs aren't national, are unable to generate significant user revenues and require large subsidies, the Reason Foundation report says they should be funded by state and local governments. The 18.4 cents a gallon federal fuel tax should be refocused on rebuilding and modernizing vitally important Interstates.

"Sooner or later Congress is going to have to deal with the highway bill and the major shortfall in highway investment," said Robert Poole, principal author of the report and director of transportation policy at Reason Foundation. "It is time to rethink and refocus the federal transportation role more on core federal purposes and less on peripheral concerns. Congress could dramatically increase funding to reduce the large backlog of cost-effective highway projects by shifting non-highway programs either to states or to general revenues. This would restore the users-pay/users-benefit principle of the Highway Trust Fund by focusing on rebuilding and modernizing the Interstate system. This Interstate 2.0 approach would increase federal investment in the nation's most important arteries by nearly $10 billion a year without raising taxes."

The study explains how refocusing the Highway Trust Fund can restore the public's trust in infrastructure spending, which has been severely damaged by too many bridges to nowhere. Along with needed investment in an Interstate 2.0 system, the proposal would also reduce federal mandates and give states more control over their transportation spending. The Interstate 2.0 approach would give states incentives to reduce waste and administrative costs; prioritize projects that will produce the largest benefits; embrace public-private partnerships that shift financing and risk away from taxpayers and onto private investors; and utilize technology, tolling, and congestion pricing to produce a sustainable, user-pays 21st-century highway system.

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Governor Certifies $66 Million in Transportation Projects

On November 9, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that he has certified $65.8 million in transportation projects under the “1511 Certification” that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These projects will bring safety improvements and needed maintenance and support to roads, intersections and bridges around Georgia,” said Governor Perdue. “The federal funds will make our roads safe and strengthen our transportation network.”

For more information, visit Georgia DOT’s stimulus website at www.dot.state.ga.us/gastimulus .The list of the projects approved is below:


Baker CR 122/PRETORIA ROAD FROM SR 91 TO DOUGHERTY COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Baldwin CS 701/BLANDY ROAD FROM SR 49 TO SR 22

Resurface & Maintenance

Baldwin CR 69/BROWNS CROSSING ROAD FROM SR 49 TO SR 22

Resurface & Maintenance

Ben Hill CR 254/OSIERFIELD FROM SR 206 TO IRWIN COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Berrien CR 359/WYCLIFF ROBERTS ROAD FM SR 158 TO CR 238/GLADYS ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Bryan, Chatham I-95 FROM SR 25/US 17/BRYAN TO I-16/CHATHAM

Resurface & Maintenance

Bulloch CR 577/DENMARK-NEVILS ROAD FM CR 584/GROVELAND ROAD TO SR 67

Resurface & Maintenance

Butts CR 296/BROWNLEE ROAD FM SR 36 TO CR 136 @ MONROE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Camden CR 141/HARRIETTS BLUFF ROAD FM DEEP CREEK TO CHEMICAL PLANT

Resurface & Maintenance

Chattooga CR 329/GORE-SUBLIGNA RD FROM SR 1/US 27 TO CR 29/JOHNSTON RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Chattooga CR 325/NARROWS RD FM CR 337 TO W OF CR 330 - STABILIZATION

Pavement Rehab

Cherokee SR 5BU FROM SR 140/WALESKA TO CS 785/RIVERSTONE BLVD

Signals - Safety

Clarke CR 470/MAIN ST FM CR 134/ATHENS RD TO OGLETHORPE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Clarke CR 140/OLD ELBERTON FM CR 477/VOYLES RD TO MADISON CO LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Clarke CR 120/SMOKEY ROAD FROM NOWHERE ROAD TO HELICAN SPRINGS ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Clayton CR 311/PINE RIDGE RD FROM SR 3/US 19 TO CR 312/PHILLIPS DR

Resurface & Maintenance

Clayton CR 1351/REX ROAD FROM SR 42 TO I-675

Resurface & Maintenance

Cobb CR 1720/WINDY HILL FM CR 1154/POWERS FERRY RD TO SR 3/US 41

Resurface & Maintenance

Colquitt CS 759/CS 1025/WEST BLVD FM SR 33/US 319 TO CS 753/FIFTH AVE

Resurface & Maintenance

Cook CR 247/MASSEE POST RD FROM BOONE RD TO LONNIE GRIMSLEY RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Dooly CR 320/ELKO ROAD FROM HOUSTON COUNTY LINE TO SR 7

Resurface & Maintenance

Dougherty SR 300/US 19 MEDIAN TURN LANES FROM MITCHELL CO TO WORTH CO

Turn Lanes - Safety

Dougherty WEST OAKRIDGE DRIVE FM OLD PRETORIA ROAD TO LOCKETT STATION

Resurface & Maintenance

Effingham CR 307/CLYO-KILDARE ROAD FROM SR 21 TO N OF PR 443

Resurface & Maintenance

Elbert CR 307/THIRTEEN FORKS ROAD FROM SR 77 TO HART COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Evans CR 233/OLD HWY 250 FM TATTNALL CO LINE TO CR 204/SUNBURY RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Floyd CS 1124/BROAD STREET FROM SR 1/US 27 TO COOSA RIVER

Resurface & Maintenance

Floyd CS 642/CHARLTON ST FROM SR 1/US 27 TO CR 1050/DIVISION ST

Resurface & Maintenance

Franklin CR 418/CR 419/BOLD SPRINGS RD FM SR 106 TO SR 59; EXC SR 26

Resurface & Maintenance

Fulton JOHNS CREEK GREENWAY SEGMENT 1 PART 2

Bicycle/Ped. Facility

Gordon CR 483/CRAIGTOWN ROAD FROM SR 225 TO SR 3/US 41

Resurface & Maintenance

Gordon CR 483/NEWTOWN CHURCH ROAD FROM SR 225 TO CR 21/NEWTOWN ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Grady CR 315/17TH AVE FM SR 93/SR 111 TO 0.30 MI E OF SR 38/US 84

Resurface & Maintenance

Habersham CR 387/DEMOREST/MT AIRY ROAD FROM SR 385/US 442 TO SR 365

Resurface & Maintenance

Hancock CR 180/POWELLTON AVE FM HAMILTON ST TO SPARTA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Hart CR 505/LIBERTY CHURCH ROAD FROM SR 172 TO ELBERT COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Jackson CR 426/WAYNE POULTRY FM OLD GAINESVILLE HWY TO VALENTINE PKY

Resurface & Maintenance

Jefferson CS 561/MIDVILLE ROAD FROM SR 4 TO SR 24

Resurface & Maintenance

Jefferson CR 59/QUAKER ROAD FROM SR 17 TO SR 80

Resurface & Maintenance

Johnson CR 203/BAY SPRINGS CHURCH RD FM SR 26 TO MT OLIVE CHURCH RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Jones CR 292/BOWEN HILL ROAD FROM CR 107/SMITH ROAD TO SR 49

Resurface & Maintenance

Lamar CR 214/HIGH FALLS PARK FROM SR 36 TO MONROE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Laurens CS 768/ROBERSON ST FROM SR 19/US 80 TO CS 770/KNOX ST

Resurface & Maintenance

Laurens CR 526/OLD MACON RD FM EVERGREEN RD TO WILKINSON COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Lee CR 227/PINEWOOD RD FM KINCHAFOONEE CRK TO CR 229/BRONWOOD RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lee CR 231/NORTH PHILEMA ROAD FROM SR 32 TO CR 232/NEW YORK ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lowndes CR 779/HOWELL RD FM CR 1274/STATENVILLE TO SR 7/PERIMETER RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lowndes CR 782/MORVEN ROAD FROM SR 122 TO BROOKS COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

LumpkinCR 134/DAMASCUS CHURCH RD FM SR 9/US 19 TO WHITE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Macon CR 282/DRAYTON RD FM CR 22/TWIN CHURCHS RD TO DOOLY CO LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Madison CR 394/LEXINGTON ROAD FROM SR 72 TO OGLETHORPE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

McDuffie CS 663/RAILDROAD STREET FROM SR 17 TO SR 223

Resurface & Maintenance

McDuffie CR 309/HAPPY VALLEY ROAD FROM SR 17 TO CR 297/SAND HILL ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Miller CR 189/GRADY COBB RD FM SHINGLER RD TO THREE NOTCH RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Mitchell CR 275/RIVER ROAD FROM SR 65 TO CR 11/SLASH ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Muscogee WARM SPRINGS RAIL LINE BIKE/PED TRAIL - PHASE III

TE-Bike/Ped Facility

Muscogee ATMS/SIGNAL/CCTV/FIBER IN COLUMBUS

Safety

Muscogee ATMS: COLUMBUS/MUSCOGEE COUNTY/GDOT REGIONAL TCC

Safety

Oglethorpe CR 77/WOLFSKIN ROAD FROM CR 240 TO CLARKE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Paulding CR 467/DALLAS NEBO ROAD FROM SR 61 TO CR 472/FROG ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Pike CR 161/KINGS ROAD FROM SR 109 TO UPSON COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Pulaski CR 198/BURNT BRIDGE FROM SR 26 TO SR 230

Resurface & Maintenance

Rabun OLD 441 FM S OF CR 218 TO CS 514 & FM CS 501 TO SR 15/US 441

Resurface & Maintenance

Randolph CR 161/LOWER SHELLMAN FROM SR 41 TO TERRELL COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Richmond CR 1509/KEYSVILLE ROAD FROM SR 88 TO BURKE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Screven CR 243/E OGEECHEE ST FM SR 73 TO SYLVANIA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Stephens CR 538/BROOKHAVEN CIR FM CR 43/E SILVER SHOALS RD TO SR 328

Resurface & Maintenance

Tattnall CR 509/OLD HWY 250 FM SR 73/US 301 TO EVANS COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Tift CR 418/OLD UNION RD FROM SOUTHWELL BLVD TO OMEGA-ELDORADO RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Toombs CR 335/THOMPSON POND ROAD FROM SR 292 TO VIDALIA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Towns CR 172/GUM LOG RD FM W OF WINCHESTER CRK RD TO BARNARD RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Troup CR 407/BARTLEY ROAD FROM SHOEMAKER ROAD TO SR 1

Resurface & Maintenance

Turner CR 249/WARWICK HWY FM E OF CR 96/OAK GROVE TO CR 94/LEE RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Twiggs CR 193/SGODA-HUBER ROAD FM SR 87 TO CR 185/RIGGINS MILL ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Union CR 341/OLD BLUE RIDGE HWY FM CR 117 TO LITTLE YOUNGCANE CRK

Resurface & Maintenance

Upson CR 421/BARNESVILLE ROAD FROM SR 74 TO LAMAR COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Warren CR 174/FIVE POINTS JEWELL ROAD FROM SR 16 TO SR 123

Resurface & Maintenance

Washington CR 446/RIDGE ROAD FROM SR 88 TO SR 15

Resurface & Maintenance

Wayne CR 392/SUNSET BLVD FROM SR 169 TO N OF SR 38/US 84

Resurface & Maintenance

White CR 68/HULSEY ROAD FROM SR 75 TO SR 11/US 129

Resurface & Maintenance

Wilkes CS 612/ANDREWS DRIVE FROM SR 17/US 78BU TO SR 47

Resurface & Maintenance

Worth CR 415/PHILLIP CAUSEY ROAD FROM SR 33 TO CR 412/SUMNER ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

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New ACCG Report Reveals Trends in Transportation Solutions and Funding Nationwide

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) has released a report which examines efforts by other states to increase transportation funding since 2000. This report, “Coping with Transportation Funding Deficits: A Survey of the States,” incorporates information from more than 35 states and highlights how these states are working to address transportation infrastructure investment needs through a variety of methods and revenue sources. The report identifies several trends, including the growing popularity of asking voters to approve new transportation funding that is not tied to traditional sources such as the motor fuel tax but instead is tailored to meet the specific needs of their state and local governments.

“We need to come together to find a solution that addresses both the state’s needs and allows counties and regions of counties the flexibility to meet their varied needs,” said ACCG Executive Director Jerry Griffin. “This report shows that other states are facing similar challenges and finding solutions – Georgia can do the same.”

Key findings in the report include:

· Referenda were the most frequently used method to increase transportation funding. At least 210 referenda were proposed to increase revenues for transportation since 2000, with varying levels of success. States are veering away from the traditional transportation revenue source of motor fuel taxes; instead, referenda were primarily regarding sales and property taxes, bonds and other fees.

· Many states are enabling local governments and existing or newly-defined regions to develop their own revenue generating solutions. More local tax measures (173) were proposed than any other type of referenda. In addition, 19 regional measures also were proposed. The majority (13) of these proposals included sales tax increases, and nine of them were approved.

· Most of the statewide measures that were proposed to voters were for the approval of bond projects. Fourteen of the seventeen statewide ballot measures were for bond approvals.

· Many state legislatures are taking direct action to increase transportation funding. Six states increased the motor fuel tax. Twelve raised fees, primarily vehicle registration fees, and three enabled their largest metropolitan regions to levy sales taxes for transportation.

The report inventories specific proposals at the local, regional and state level, and includes the purpose for which the funds were proposed. It also includes additional information on legislation enacted by state legislatures.

“Our primary purpose in developing this report was to assist Georgia’s policymakers by providing them with a comprehensive overview of legislative strategies used by other states,” said Matthew Hicks, ACCG Associate Policy Director for Economic Development and Transportation. “We learned that there is no single answer to transportation funding. States are developing solutions to meet their specific needs and empowering local governments with the tools necessary to address their own transportation challenges.”

ACCG is a strong proponent of investing in transportation infrastructure in Georgia to achieve state transportation goals and to provide consistent funding for transportation projects at the local level. ACCG has actively worked with the Governor’s Office, state legislators, the Department of Transportation and state transportation authorities and others including the Get Georgia Moving Coalition to meet the needs of all Georgians.

The “Coping with Transportation Funding Deficits” report was compiled using information from several organizations that track transportation funding and finance, including the Center for Transportation Excellence, a non-partisan policy research center created to serve the needs of communities and transportation organizations nationwide, and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). In addition, ACCG staff conducted informal surveys of 27 states via phone and email interviews, as well as Internet searches. The complete report is available at www.accg.org.
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Governor Perdue Certifies $8.6 Million in Transportation Projects

Governor Sonny Perdue announced Thursday that he has submitted the required “1511 Certification” on three transportation projects that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These funds include needed intersection improvements and bridge repairs,” said Governor Perdue. “We are using these federal dollars to improve our transportation network and to put Georgians to work.”

For more information visit Georgia DOT’s stimulus website at www.dot.state.ga.us/gastimulus .
The list of projects is below:

County
Description
Work Type
Total Funding

Cook
SR 7/US 41 @ Giddens Mill Creek in North Adel
Bridges
$4,263,368

Pierce
SR 203/Strickland Street @ CR 309/Old Alma Road
Intersection Improvement
$2,364,863

Pike
SR 18/SR 109 and SR 74 Intersection Improvement
Intersection Improvement
$2,000,000

Grand Total

$8,628,231
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