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Transportation subcommittee cites bridge repairs, hurricane recovery and airport investments
Summary
The Transportation and Regulatory subcommittee said the budget continues a multi‑year bridge and pavement program, recommends a second $200 million round for bridge maintenance and directs funds for Hurricane Helene cleanup, airport safety and a statewide education/workforce portal.
Representative Crawford, presenting the Transportation and Regulatory subcommittee priorities, said the state has seen measurable pavement improvements since passage of Act 40 (2017) and recommended a second round of $200,000,000 for bridge maintenance to help reach a $1 billion target over five years.
The presenter said interstate pavement conditions rated “good” have improved to 77 percent, and major road segments rated “good” rose to 41 percent. The subcommittee reported a roughly 20 percent reduction in fatal and serious‑injury accidents on completed projects.
Disaster recovery: the Department of Transportation reported removing more than 4,000,000 cubic yards of debris after Hurricane Helene and is working to ensure Helene‑damaged contracts meet FEMA match requirements. The committee recommended funding for bridge and road repairs that will support FEMA match obligations.
Airports and workforce portal: the presentation cited airport investments to mitigate power interruptions, repair runways and expand passenger terminal capacity; the presenter also recommended funding through the aeronautics commission for commercial‑airport safety and development. The subcommittee proposed funding for a centralized Education and Workforce portal to consolidate more than 40 state websites that currently serve workforce and education information.
Why it matters: the investments aim to protect transportation networks, support tourism and improve access to workforce resources; many projects are subject to federal match rules and multi‑year construction schedules.
