More highway funds needed, official says
Transportation committee met locally
The Arkansas Highway Department uses the slogan of “being asked to do more with less,” but with the lack of federal highway funding, road construction will be “doing less with less.”
Federal highway funds may not be available through 2015 unless Congress provides additional funding as the Sept. 30 deadline approaches, said Scott E. Bennett, director of highways and transportation of the state high-
way department.
The Legislative Joint Transportation Committee conducted its meeting Thursday in Texarkana, Ark., Convention Center and listened to Bennett explain how the department is “doing less with less.”
He also discussed how the funding has declined, causing the highway department to postpone projects for at least a year if the federal highway funds are depleted.
He also said funding is down about 4 percent because of a decrease in sales-tax revenues.
Fuel consumption has declined, causing the funds to drop, he said.
“We’re hoping for a good Black Friday to boost the sale taxes,” Bennett said.
He also explained how a $100 million highway widening program could widen 143 miles in 1977. But with the cost increases, a $100 million widening program today would only widen 15 miles of highway.
The state’s $25 million bridge program could repair or replace 136 bridges in 1977, but today only 29 bridges can be repaired or replaced.
“An additional $200 million annually is needed over the next 10 years for highway congestion, pavement and bridge conditions, maintenance, administration and operations to remain at current levels,” Bennett said.
He also said a national survey of the American manufacturers said 70 percent of American roadways are getting worse.
Bennett also presented a breakdown of the length and costs of Interstate 49 in Arkansas which includes:
The length of Interstate 49 in Arkansas is 315 miles and $1.2 billion has been spent on construction.
A total of 110 miles of I-49 have been completed.
A total of 17 miles of I-49 remains under construction and eight miles are scheduled for construction.
A total of 180 miles remain to be constructed and $2.8 billion needed to complete the interstate in Arkansas.
I-49 lacks about five miles from being completed from Doddridge to the Louisana border.
He also explained household expenditures cost more for television or Internet service than road taxes.
Internet costs in an average household are $123.93 per month while road taxes average $46.33.
Households also spend an average of $159.34 for electricity and gas and $161.25 for telephones.