- As More States Face Highway Maintenance Budget Shortages, Experts Debate Causes And Solutions
- Public Comment Period On Potential Kansas DOT Express Lane Project Expires Friday
- Florida DOT Cites Expired Toll Relief Program In 2023 Highlights Recap
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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As More States Face Highway Maintenance Budget Shortages, Experts Debate Causes And Solutions
Stateline reports that state transportation departments across the US “are warning that public safety is at risk if lawmakers don’t overhaul how road maintenance gets funded.” Oregon DOT, cited as a major example, recently received a $19 million budget increase after it warned that it would otherwise have insufficient funds to mount a full-scale winter maintenance program. Most public officials see the progressive diminution of fuel tax revenues as the cause of maintenance budget shortages and other systemic funding problems. However, other experts claim the real problem isn’t the aggregate amount of funding DOTs receive so much as legislative and departmental budgeting that prioritizes new construction over repair and improvement of existing infrastructure. Stateline looks at how several states are contending with agency budget shortages and trends in the exploration of new sources of transportation revenue.
Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) (MnPASS) Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Road Use Charging (RUC-MBUF-VMT) Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)Public Comment Period On Potential Kansas DOT Express Lane Project Expires Friday
WDAF reports, Kansas DOT announced an extension (through Friday, January 5) of the deadline for submission of public comment on its proposed Kansas Highway 10 (K-10) corridor widening project (number KA-6549-01). WDAF notes the department aims to improve major interchanges and transit options in addition to introducing enhanced safety technology. “One big option is to add in an additional express lane and charge a toll to use that lane of traffic. A similar project is already being built on 69 highway.”
Express Lanes Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Kansas Kansas City (MO) Metro Area Kansas Department of Transportation Public Outreach And CommunicationFlorida DOT Cites Expired Toll Relief Program In 2023 Highlights Recap
In a news release highlighting last year’s departmental accomplishments, Florida DOT noted that its expired “one-year Toll Relief Program to benefit Floridians who frequently commute on Florida toll roads” reduced the costs of 1.2 million drivers by a per capita average of $400. The department added that the program’s $470 million cost was funded through a general revenue surplus and did not impact funding for transportation projects. The release also mentioned the expansion of SunPass interoperability during 2023. Additional topics spotlighted were disaster response, safety and workforce development initiatives, technology and infrastructure resiliency programs and the state’s massive investment in highways and roads.
The release looks ahead to projects that will “begin or continue in the coming year, most notably the groundbreaking of several Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative projects.
TRN notes that FDOT’s toll relief program website was recently taken offline, but a cached version is still accessible via Google.
Florida Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Interoperability SunPass Toll Exemption, Discount And Equity ProgramsThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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