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[0]Tennessee may move to a user-pay system to fund new road construction.
It takes millions to move mountains, turning elevated earth into a smooth, flat surface to drive on. Jennifer Osborne at TDOT says "we're having to tighten our belts and look at our projects and prioritize and some projects will have to be delayed."
The federal government put the brakes on numerous road projects across the country this month, telling states it wanted back $3.4 billion in highway funds. Tennessee's share accounts for a over $73 million. This comes after the feds trimmed nearly $80 million from Tennessee last year. Osborne says "that's just money we don't get back, its just gone."
[0]Maybe not. After warning an increase in Tennessee's gas tax might be needed to keep highway projects on course, Governor Phil Bredesen now says he supports tolls to build new roads and bridges.
Nathan McCoim, a Tennessee resident, says "if the federal government is declining to offer funds to them then they have no alternative but to get it from the state and its citizens I suppose."
Tennessee has a long history of paying cash for its roads, and some residents say if the money's not there - tolls shouldn't be the answer.
Serena Inks says she "wont be driving on them. I've lived in other states that have toll roads and you tend to avoid them unless you absolutely have no choice."
Others aren't as quick to discount the transportation tariff. Nicholas Selbo says "I guess as long as you keep it along the borders, we can make money from other states." Jon Schier adds "although I'm wary of any increase in government spending at the same time the money does have to come from somewhere, we can't have road falling apart, so, I don't know, I'd like to see a little bit more evidence on it."
Tennesseans may get that chance as the state explores this idea further.
At least one of the road projects being delayed in the state affects our region. TDOT says work on a new interchange at Exit-11 in Ooltewah will not begin next month. TDOT plans to release a comprehensive list of delayed projects in late April.
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Read about more legislative issues on Joe Legge's blog [2].
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