Fairhope, Alabama.
EASTERN SHORE MPO MEETING
At the end of their quarterly meeting Wednesday in Daphne, MPO Policy Board chairman Mayor Tim Kant proposed that the state's one-billion-dollar portion of BP RESTORE ACT fine-money be used for transportation projects -- and not just for debt reduction/servicing for the state's general fund -- as has been proposed by Governor Bentley.
Kant: "Everybody's been talking about the billion dollars ... if it has to go into the general fund ... hopefully it will go into transportation ... ."
"I personally believe ... at the end of the day ... providing jobs and generating development ... will provide more revenue for the state ... than just paying off interest debt ... as they are proposing."
"The state has major traffic issues ... that have to be addressed ... . Hopefully the message will get back to the highway department and the governor ... when they start making decisions about spending the (fine) money."
(The proposed settlement must still be approved by a federal court judge.)
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ASSIGNED JOB
Kant called it "imperative" the MPO's Technical Advisory Committee start work now to come up with potential uses for the money (road projects) "so we can submit them" on short notice.
He proposed combining revenue sources like the MPO, ALDOT, RESTORE ACT, and local matching funds to expedite progress.
Major road projects like the widening Hwy 181 to four lanes through Fairhope are now on the "visionary list" (purple on map): there is no money to do them.
 |
| Mayor Kant, center |
EASTERN SHORE MPO MEETING
At the end of their quarterly meeting Wednesday in Daphne, MPO Policy Board chairman Mayor Tim Kant proposed that the state's one-billion-dollar portion of BP RESTORE ACT fine-money be used for transportation projects -- and not just for debt reduction/servicing for the state's general fund -- as has been proposed by Governor Bentley.
Kant: "Everybody's been talking about the billion dollars ... if it has to go into the general fund ... hopefully it will go into transportation ... ."
"I personally believe ... at the end of the day ... providing jobs and generating development ... will provide more revenue for the state ... than just paying off interest debt ... as they are proposing."
"The state has major traffic issues ... that have to be addressed ... . Hopefully the message will get back to the highway department and the governor ... when they start making decisions about spending the (fine) money."
(The proposed settlement must still be approved by a federal court judge.)
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ASSIGNED JOB
Kant called it "imperative" the MPO's Technical Advisory Committee start work now to come up with potential uses for the money (road projects) "so we can submit them" on short notice.
He proposed combining revenue sources like the MPO, ALDOT, RESTORE ACT, and local matching funds to expedite progress.
Major road projects like the widening Hwy 181 to four lanes through Fairhope are now on the "visionary list" (purple on map): there is no money to do them.
Comments