With people traveling in record numbers across our nation’s roads this 4th of July weekend, the need to repair our nation’s infrastructure is even clearer. However, many states may halt or delay needed transportation projects due to uncertainty surrounding the future of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). The District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) on July 2 became the 26th state to express uncertainty about the future of major projects if Congress does not stabilize highway funding before the current surface transportation bill expires October 1.
If the HTF shortfall is not addressed soon, the District of Columbia road and bridge work could be affected as soon as August. “Our major capital projects could be slowed or potentially suspended,” said Reggie Sanders, a spokesman for the D.C. Department of Transportation. “It would be a big setback.”
Twenty five other states have publicly expressed concern about the HTF situation and how it will impact their future activities, according to ARTBA research, including Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and Arkansas—which has already halted work on 14 projects valued at $70-$80 million. According to analysis of federal data, federal funds provide on average 52 percent of funding for annual District of Columbia highway and bridge project capital outlays.
4th of July travel statistics from: http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2014/06/26/july-4th-holiday-travel-ticks-up/11394749/