Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently announced a $26 billion proposal to address transportation needs across the state. Lee’s infrastructure proposal, “Build With Us,” comes as the state’s growth is outpacing roadway capacity investments.
Citing a net gain of 137,100 jobs year-over-year (September 2021-September 2022) and population increases of nearly 9% across the state, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) explains in a press release that the growth “yields economic opportunity” in addition to “presenting challenges in our ability to move people, goods and services more seamlessly across our state.”
To address both urban and rural congestion in the state, $26 billion is needed in addition to funds collected as part of the 2017 IMPROVE Act, according to TDOT. Nearly $14 billion of the new proposal would support the four major urban areas – Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville.
The hotly debated IMPROVE Act, signed into law by former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, increased the gas and diesel tax as well as vehicle registration fees in order to fund 962 road and bridge projects totaling $10.5 billion.
Lee’s “Build With Us” proposal focuses on addressing three major transportation issues in the state: urban congestion, delivery of project tools, and reforming the employment experience within TDOT.
In addition, Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) are proposed in Lee’s “Build With Us” plan to allow private investment in new roadway infrastructure. Under this proposal, TDOT would contract with a private sector partner to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain Choice Lanes which allow drivers to access a more “reliable lane” with a “user fee” while still being able to use traditional highway lanes for free. In the southeast, Tennessee is the only state that does not allow P3s for developing roads and bridges.
“As Tennessee continues to experience unprecedented growth, it’s critical we invest in roads and bridges to fully harness our state’s success,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “I asked Commissioner Eley to look at best practices around the country to see what’s working and what isn’t. The Build With Us plan will provide quality infrastructure in both rural and urban communities and blunt congestion without raising the gas tax or going into debt.”
Apart from a toll road “Choice Lane” component to Lee’s “Build With Us” plan, no specific proposals for tax and/or fee increases have been cited.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Nashville Traffic” by Cheryl A. Austin CC4.0 and “Highway 40 Traffic” by FormulaNone CC2.0.
