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ALDOT official details $1.15 billion in federal programs and Rebuild Alabama allocations
Summary
An ALDOT presenter outlined $1.15 billion in federal transportation program funding and detailed how Rebuild Alabama Act and state bond funds will be used for system enhancement, local grants and bridge replacement; members asked about ferry funding and bridge inventory limits.
An ALDOT official identified in the meeting as Mr. Austin presented the department's fund allocation plan, telling the committee the federal programs listed in the State Transportation Improvement Program total "just at $1,150,000,000." He itemized major line items including interstate maintenance ($180,000,000), state route resurfacing ($235,000,000) and bridge replacement ($92,000,000), and said administrative overhead is about $95,000,000.
Mr. Austin described allocations from the Rebuild Alabama Act, saying the current "trip" program budget was about $40,000,000 for the year and the local grant program is scheduled at $15,000,000, with roughly $3.6 million remaining to be allocated in the next round. He noted the director has discretion within the statute to set local grant amounts between the statutory minimum and maximum.
On matching and contingency, Mr. Austin said match requirements total roughly $188,000,157.05 for routine maintenance and additional maintenance programs add to about $185,000,000. He emphasized that some federal funding is contingent on congressional authorization for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (referred to in the record as IIJA/IJA), which expires Sept. 30.
A committee member asked whether the Electric Vehicle formula (NEVI) program funds charging stations. Mr. Austin said ADECA administers the program and that NEVI prioritizes charging-station locations according to a Federal Highway Administration-approved corridor plan. "That's exactly what it's stood up to do," he said.
On ferry funding, a member asked about upgrades or funding for the Dauphin Island ferry. Mr. Austin said ferry funds were zeroed out in the most recent reconciliation and the current projected budget shows $0 for ferry programs this year; historically the program had been funded at levels (about $200,000 a year) insufficient to operate and maintain a ferry.
Senator Allen pressed for context on bridge needs statewide; Mr. Austin said he did not have an exact total offhand but noted the state inventory exceeds 5,000 bridges, that cities and counties own a larger share of bridge counts while the state carries about "70 plus percent of the square footage of bridges," and that under current federal bridge formula funding (a $45,000,000 minimum) the department can replace roughly 15 bridges in a good year. "So we're spending every penny that we have allocated for bridges, but it's not as many as we need," he said.
The presentation closed with a reminder that the STIP is a dynamic, four-year program that is typically amended on a monthly basis and must show fiscal balance. The committee did not take formal action on the funding plan during the meeting; Mr. Austin presented the allocation plan for committee review and questions.
The committee's record shows discussion of specific funding lines, the director's discretion over Rebuild Alabama allocations, contingency tied to federal authorization, and outstanding questions about ferry funding and the number of bridges needing replacement. The committee will consider these allocations as the STIP and related grant processes move forward.
