Administration, municipal groups urge swift approval of $1.185 billion transportation bond bill

Administration officials and representatives of municipal and industry groups told the Joint Committee on Bonding, State Assets and Capital Expenditures on Monday, July 21, that House Bill 4257 would authorize $1,185,000,000 to support municipal and statewide transportation priorities and should move quickly through the Legislature.

"This bill proposes a total authorization of $1,185,000,000 to support both municipal and statewide transportation priorities," State Highway Administrator Jonathan Belzer told the committee, laying out funding for local road programs, bridge and pavement lifecycle work, culvert and small-bridge modernization, and congestion and safety projects.

The measure would authorize $300 million for the Chapter 90 local-aid program, split into the traditional $200 million distributed under the longstanding Chapter 90 formula (a combination of road miles, employment and population) and an additional $100 million allocated solely on local road mileage to increase support for rural communities. The bill also would authorize $500 million for bridge and pavement lifecycle asset management, $200 million for culvert and small-bridge modernization, and $185 million for congestion- and safety-focused projects such as intersection work, ADA-compliant sidewalks and shared-use paths.

Why it matters: Committee members and administration officials said the package aims…