Tennessee DOT Says Highway Fund Uncertainty Damages Global Competitiveness
The Tennessee Department of Transportation pressed the state’s general assembly members to ramp up pressure to reauthorize the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) by reaching out to Tennessee’s congressional delegation, saying the recent short-term extension is hampering the state’s ability to close highway project deals. President Barack Obama signed into law in August a bill that authorized federal spending for highway projects through May 31, 2015 (see 14081001).
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The Highway and Transportation Funding Act, HR-5021 (here), also provided the HTF almost $11 billion. “Since we do not have a full fiscal year’s funding, the department has had to scale back on future contracts and re-prioritize which projects we let to contract in our December letting and through May of 2015,” said the state agency’s Commissioner John Schroer on Oct. 24, adding that the lack of certainty is damaging the state’s ability to compete globally.
The letter also provides a list of state projects that the Tennessee DOT says are now delayed because of that uncertainty. Tennessee's Senate delegation includes Republicans Lamar Alexandar and Bob Corker, and the House delegation consists of nine lawmakers. The National Association of Counties also pushed Congressional leadership in recent days to extend the HTF authority for the long-term (see 1410230034).
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the letter.