Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wy Dot Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
WYDOT outlines funding shortfalls, shelf-ready priorities and the I-80/I-25 interchange as a potential major project
Summary
WYDOT told the committee it faces aging infrastructure, staffing shortfalls and long-term funding gaps; members discussed discrete options including bonding, redirecting funds, and preparing the I-80/I-25 interchange (a multihundred-million-dollar project) to be shovel-ready for federal discretionary grants.
Darren Westby, director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, briefed the joint committee on WYDOT's revenue framework, stressing the need to prioritize shovel-ready projects and to prepare for federal discretionary grant opportunities.
"We need to continue the effort on studying different things," Westby said, noting aging roads and airport infrastructure and urging the committee to consider large projects as they near readiness to ensure matching funds are available for federal grants.
Members discussed funding options including using portions of other state funds, bonding, and proposals that appeared during the recent session to divert gaming revenues into transportation improvement. Representative Larson and others flagged the I-80/I-25 interchange as an example of a near-shovel-ready, high-cost project that would require advance funding commitments to be competitive for federal discretionary grants.
WYDOT also warned that increased compensation and staffing (about a $14 million cost mentioned by the director) will reduce the amount available for direct road work unless additional revenue is found. Committee members and the director agreed that alternatives to relying solely on the general fund should be explored and that a holistic funding discussion is needed, including DMV and highway-patrol expenditures supported by the highway fund.
Representative Jarvis asked that airport funding be incorporated into WYDOT's broader funding conversation; airport representatives and WYDOT said airports operate in partnership with local governments and would contribute prioritized project lists for legislative consideration.
Next steps: committee members asked staff and WYDOT to prepare data on funding sources, purchasing power trends, and candidate projects for interim consideration.
