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Senators press MDOT on capacity projects and who pays for utility relocations
Summary
Senators adopted a strike-all for the MDOT budget that adds significant funds for maintenance and a three-year highway plan, while members pressed the chair about whether utility relocation costs are being shifted to municipalities; the chair committed to follow-up under reverse-repealer authority.
Senator Thompson presented a strike-all for the MDOT budget that included large increases in special funds and capital expense requests: "the total increase over LBR funding was $67,740,493 plus that, 265,000,000 and another 40,000,000 in the IIGA, highway match," he said on the floor.
During debate Senator Wiggins pressed the chair for clarity about whether utility-relocation costs are included in capacity-project budgets or being shifted to cities and towns. "I'm being told to this point, I've received 5 different explanations about that," Wiggins said, asking the subcommittee chair to work with MDOT and the municipalities to get a consistent answer. Chairman Thompson said the reverse-repealer language was added so senators could address outstanding issues and committed to work with MDOT to clarify whether relocation is part of project engineering costs.
The Senate adopted the strike-all as amended and passed the bill by morning roll call. Supporters said the additional funding would back maintenance, materials and a multi-year highway plan; opponents and some municipal representatives sought clarity on how utility relocation costs for local capacity projects will be allocated.
