Transportation Study Group Tries to Get Infrastructure Crisis Back on the Table

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam traveled the state last summer trying to draw attention to a 6-billion dollar backlog of highway projects that are approved, not funded by the Legislature.
The governor thought a gas tax would be a good way to do it, but he gave up that idea when lawmakers turned a cold shoulder.
There’s no solution in sight, but an independent study group out of Washington is trying to get the problem back on the table.

Anyone who drives on Tennessee highways, roads and bridges already knows that we have a problem.
The state has not been able to stay ahead of aging infrastructure.
Every city in the state has near gridlock during drive times. .

A Washington D.C. national transportation research group called TRIP is taking the message about highway needs from state to state.

CAROLYN BONIFAS KELLY, "TRIP", ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR "The trip report finds that Tennessee’s roads and bridges have deteriorated, congested and may lack safety features..cost the state’s drivers 5.6 billion dollars each year."

TRIP’s study broke down the estimated cost by community.

CAROLYN BONIFAS KELLY (IN:00:06:33) "Here in the Chattanooga area, the average driver loses more than 1400 dollars each year.,..as a result of driving on roads that are in need of repair and congested and lack some desirable safety features."

Those figures take into account things like wear and tear on your vehicle, and time lost sitting in traffic.

Triple A Travel has joined with TRIP to emphasis the critical need for legislative active in Tennessee.

STEPHANIE MILANI, AAA PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST "What we would like to see is a comprehensive package. That we know the easiest thing to do would be increase the gas tax …that is fair to most motorists. "

That’s what the Governor had in mind, and may push again in the future.

GOV. BILL HASLAM, (R) TENNESSEE, Sept. 9, 2015 "There’s no magic solution. We can’t say we have 6-billion dollars…that’s what our backlog is..and we’re going to somehow, miraculously fund those projects with some nickels and dimes."

Gasoline prices are at historic lows these days, but Nashville insiders say the legislators are reluctant to approve an increase in the gas tax during an election year.
Right now there is no plan in Tennessee.