4/18/2017
New transportation funding allows ITD to continue effective, efficient management; will be discussed by board Friday
LEWISTON - Two transportation bills were
passed into law at the end of the recent Idaho Legislative session, giving the Idaho Transportation Department the ability to invest millions to
improve the transportation system and fund pedestrian-safety improvements.
During the Idaho Transportation Board meeting Friday (April 21) in Lewiston, board members will be given a list of possible projects to fund through the newly authorized GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) bonds. These include four corridors with work left incomplete from the 2005-2014 GARVEE bonds.
In passing the two transportation-funding bills at the end of the session — Senate Bill 1206 and House Bill 334 — officials showed a high level of trust in ITD to manage money well and improve Idaho’s transportation system. Elected members of both the Senate and House united to address the needs of critical highway-system repairs and expansion.
ITD director Brian Ness spoke on the matter: “Governor Otter said when SB1206 became law, ‘the Idaho Transportation Department has never been more efficient, effective, or motivated to succeed.’ We now must make good on that promise to execute the projects that will make Idaho roads safer, ease congestion, and improve the flow of goods and services throughout the state.”
The funds from these bills will allow
ITD to address the most critical needs for infrastructure, but an annual
shortfall will persist. According to the Governor’s Task Force, existing
roads and bridges require an additional $165 million each year just to maintain them in the condition they are in today. There is an additional need of $281 million to enhance the safety and capacity of the state's rapidly growing population.
“This year’s increase is a step forward to meeting our transportation funding needs. We look forward to working with state and federal officials to continue to close that gap,” said Ness.
The bills allow several revenue streams for transportation funding. First, they authorized ITD to borrow $300 million in GARVEE bonds. Next, they extended the “surplus eliminator” until 2019, with a 60/40 split among state and local transportation agencies. They also included 1 percent of sales tax and a portion of the cigarette tax going to a Congestion Mitigation Fund. This makes a total estimated funding of approximately $315 million.
This marks another new road-funding package in recent years. In 2015, increases to the gas tax and registration fees allowed ITD to perform necessary maintenance on deteriorating infrastructure.
ITD has effectively and efficiently put these funds on the roads. The new revenue from user fees has funded repairs on 60 projects across the state. All but a few of those projects were completed in just 18 months. The remaining few will finish this summer and fall.
Watch a video about the rapid repairs using new revenue here.