TDOT considers billions more in transportation spending

TDOT is developing a long-range plan to help officials decide how to pay for road, railway, waterway and other public transportation projects.

The department is considering three strategies for the plan. The “status quo” approach would emphasize maintaining the state’s current transportation system through road resurfacing, bus and van replacement and bridge repairs.

A “balanced” approach would reduce TDOT’s backlog of maintenance needs and modernize some roads. Under that plan, turn lanes would be added where necessary and lanes would be widened.

The “optimistic” approach, the most aggressive, would fund all feasible transportation needs. Under that approach, new roads would be built where needed.

The “status quo” plan would cost $75 billion, the “balanced” plan would cost $85 billion and the “optimistic” plan would cost $105 billion.

TDOT currently has a budget of $1.6 billion a year.

Options for raising more money for transportation include increasing the gas tax, fuel tax or vehicle registration fees; letting corporations name transportation officials or building toll roads, TDOT officials said.

The long-range transportation plan will guide, not mandate, how TDOT spends its money in the future, according to project manager Deborah Fleming.

“It’s a decision-making tool,” she said.

TDOT representatives presented the plans Monday at a public meeting in Chattanooga, one of nine meetings taking place across the state this week. TDOT will evaluate comments from the meetings and use them in forming its long-term plan, which it will finalize this summer.

TDOT has received more than 2,500 comments about the plan through its hot line, Web site and on printed comment forms.

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On the Net:

Department of Transportation: www.tennessee.gov/tdot

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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com