Tennessee’s roads get a C for eighth year in a row
NASHVILLE — As Tennessee lawmakers debate how to fund a $10 billion backlog in road projects, a new report says the state’s roads have not improved in overall quality in eight years.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave Tennessee’s roads a grade of C, the same it did eight years ago. That was long before Gov. Bill Haslam laid out his broad plan to catch up on nearly 1,000 road and bridge projects.
ASCE released its national report card for roads last week, which grades the nation’s roads at D+.
The organization rates Tennessee’s infrastructure in “fair” condition overall, with more than 71 percent of state roads in “good” or “very good” condition. Just 1 percent are rated “poor” or “very poor.”
However, the report suggests the future of state roads is suspect, as unprecedented growth around the state has placed a greater strain on them.
“From 1990 to 2013, annual [vehicle miles traveled] in Tennessee increased by 52 percent, from 46.7 billion miles traveled annually to 71.1 billion miles traveled annually,” the report states. “Based on population and other lifestyle trends, [The Road Information Program] estimates that travel on Tennessee’s roads and highways will increase by another 30 percent by 2030.”
The report estimates the Tennessee Department of Transportation will fall nearly $3 billion short of projected needs over the next 10 years, or about $291 million annually.
“In fact, it was estimated that approximately $475 million would be needed annually to keep up the current state of good repair on state-maintained roadways as measured by the [percent quality index],” the report
says. The percent quality index blends distress and road quality into a 5-point scale.
Haslam’s plan to raise the tax on gasoline and diesel by 7 cents and 12 cents, respectively, would add about $278 million a year to the state’s transportation fund. Haslam’s plan also would ban any open containers of alcohol in vehicles, which could bring in $18 million in federal funding the state doesn’t now get.
A counterproposal from Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, would avoid any tax increase, instead diverting state sales tax money to transportation. His plan, which has been well-received from more hard-line conservatives and tea party-aligned Republicans, would raise an estimated $291 million for road projects, the same projected shortfall outlined by the ASCE report.
ASCE’s report says Tennessee’s pay-as-you-go strategy to build and maintain roads makes it more dependent on the federal highway trust fund, which is broke. That strategy allows the state to avoid incurring debt, but it also forces the state to face its challenges in growth and flat budgeting head-on.
“It is time to increase the gas tax, which was last raised in 1989,” ASCE recommends in its report, which points to a 7-cent difference between the state’s gas tax and national average.
AT THE CAPITOL
ASCE officials spoke to the Senate Transportation Committee last month, and the recommendations in ASCE’s report card in many ways mirror what Haslam and Hawk have laid out, and what the Senate, at least, seems to generally support.
ASCE has not met individually with lawmakers, but has reached out to the House to make a similar presentation, said Becky Moylan, public relations manager for state projects.
Hawk chuckled when he heard about the match between his revenue plan and the ASCE’s projected budget shortfall. He said in developing his plan, he worked only with legislative assistants and budget experts at the Capitol, and no one outside state government.
“I literally just pulled a number I thought we all could live with,” he said.
ASCE recommends “sustained investment,” “bold leadership,” and preparing for the future to raise grades. Haslam spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals said the report is another reason the state needs to act.
“The ASCE Report Card for Tennessee … further shows the importance of passing a fiscally responsible plan to provide a safe and reliable transportation network that remains debt-free for the next generation of Tennesseans,” she said.
But House Republicans have been less receptive to Haslam’s plan — which includes other off-setting measures, including tax reductions, not related to road funding — because they have said it’s not truly budget-neutral. Some estimates from opponents say it will generate $395 million in revenue through tax increases and only offset $270 million in cuts.
The House clearly has been divided, most visibly in the transportation subcommittee that took two weeks to decide the fate of Haslam’s plan. Even more questions from House members came in the full transportation committee about what exactly they were voting for.
So far, House lawmakers have revised Haslam’s plan several times.
Senators have been more receptive so far to Haslam’s plan.