Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (R) included a call for increased transportation funding in his Jan. 11 State of the State address. Gov. Hickenlooper pointed to the recent passage of local transportation funding ballot measures in the state, and the successful state transportation funding increase in neighboring Utah, as reasons why Colorado lawmakers need to be ambitious in providing new revenue for the its roads and bridges. The governor also said that voters need to be consulted on the transportation funding solution. Read More>>
A drafting error in Idaho’s Senate Bill 1206 (2017) “surplus-eliminator” legislation will prevent an expected $27.5 million transfer to the state’s transportation department. The bill was intended to transfer a portion of the state’s general fund surplus to the agency for road projects, as well as provide transportation bonds against future federal highway allocations. Gov. Butch Otter (R), who stated his opposition to using general fund revenue for transportation purposes, did not include corrections for the error in his 2018 budget proposal. SB 1206 received enough state legislative support in 2017 to become law without the governor’s signature, which he declined to give. Read More>>
A survey by the Arkansas Department of Transportation found that 73 percent of the nearly 3,000 participating residents are not satisfied with the condition of the state’s roads. Read More>>
Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R- District 12) predicts that lawmakers will work on formulating an infrastructure plan in 2018, with a revenue stream developed in 2019. Read More>>
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