NASHVILLE – Officials with the Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance on Thursday congratulated the state’s federal lawmakers on passing a highway bill, but it falls short in finding a long-term solution to the state’s road funding needs.
“The Transportation Coalition of Tennessee congratulates our congressional leaders for reaching a compromise on the federal highway bill, said Susie Alcorn, executive director of the Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance. “However, that bill doesn’t solve Tennessee’s transportation infrastructure funding problems.
“The federal bill simply reauthorizes funding that was already in place, funding that Tennessee was already receiving,” she said. “It does not get us closer to addressing our state’s $6 billion backlog in transportation projects, or the additional $5.3 billion in new project needs recently released by Gov. Bill Haslam. We must find a long-term, sustainable solution – a Tennessee solution – to meet our state’s identified infrastructure needs.”
Tennessee is a pay-as-you-go state, with transportation projects funded primarily by state and federal fuel tax revenues. The dollars are apportioned for state and local projects, which include maintenance, repair and new construction.
For more information or to join the Transportation Coalition of Tennessee, visit the website at www.TransportationCoalitionTN.org.
ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION COALITION OF TENNESSEE
The Transportation Coalition of Tennessee was created to educate the public and state legislators as it seeks an increase of and reform in Tennessee’s transportation fees. The coalition aims to recruit other interested parties to join in seeking a comprehensive funding solution to maintain and expand Tennessee’s critical transportation system.
Participants in the Transportation Coalition of Tennessee include businesses, citizens, community leaders, public officials and organizations that are interested in continuing Tennessee’s transportation infrastructure for the long haul.
The Transportation Coalition steering committee includes representatives from the Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance, Auto Club Group/AAA Tennessee, Tennessee Public Transportation Association, Tennessee Trucking Association, Tennessee County Highway Officials Association, Tennessee Municipal League, Tennessee City Management Association, American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee and Tennessee Road Builders Association.
