Road, bridge and railway repair budgets could face shortfalls of $203 million a year at current funding levels, according to a new legislative report.
The report from the Legislature’s fiscal analysts says the state could see an overall shortage of $6 billion in transportation revenue over the next 30 years.
The yearly shortfall is for keeping roads and bridges in “serviceable condition.”
House Transportation Committee Chairman Rich Westman says transportation needs to be a top priority along with health care and education.
Transportation Secretary Neale Lunderville says the projected annual shortfall is high. He says streamlining agency operations and projects could reduce costs.
But he says the gas tax – the primary funding mechanism – will not meet the increasing needs of the state’s aging infrastructure.