Hello Highway User,

As the Coalition works to keep you informed about highway issues taking shape throughout Nevada and the country, it is becoming more and more evident that transportation funding is a critical issue almost everywhere.

Included in the material to the right are several articles from around the country. North Carolina is experiencing a potential $65 billion funding shortfall over the next 20 years. The 21st Century Transportation Committee, comprised of 24 elected officials, has been formed there to provide the General Assembly a preliminary report by May 2008. We will keep you posted as this process unfolds.

The momentum regarding our transportation funding needs in Nevada is still increasing, with more and more groups taking part in the discussion from different perspectives. One of those perspectives is being analyzed by a study group, created by the Governor, on public-private partnerships, which has a meeting tomorrow morning. They will consider an agenda item regarding a recommendation whether public-private partnerships are a viable option for the state of Nevada.

As you can see, there is an abundance of discussions ongoing regarding transportation issues in Nevada and throughout the country. If there are any issues in particular you would like to learn more about in this newsletter, please write us a note and let us know.

Sincerely,
Highway Users Coalition

• North Carolina has a blue ribbon panel underway called the 21st Century Transportation Committee. That panel was appointed by Gov. Mike Easley to examine the state’s transportation system and then make recommendations to the legislature. That state’s Department of Transportation estimates a $65 billion shortfall over the next 20 years.
  http://www.wral.com/traffic/story/2088792/
• The State of Ohio is currently projecting a $3.5 billion shortfall for highway construction projects that have already been approved. The state is blaming the shortfall primarily on the increased costs of construction, which it says rose a combined 40.7 percent from 2004 to 2007.
  http://www.whiotv.com/news/14708128/detail.html
• New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is planning to announce in January his proposal to reduce the state’s overall debt by creating a public company to issue bonds that will be secured by increased tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike. This plan to sell about $30 billion in bonds has created much debate. Some people believe it will result in a tripling of the tolls, while there’s still argument as to what the money would be used for.
  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/nyregion/01pike.html
• Iowa residents could see a 4-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax to help fund additional road projects. The proposal also includes increased registration fees for pickup trucks, a $2 per year increase to driver’s licenses and increased title fees. The overall plan, which the Legislature is expected to consider in January, would generate about $200 million annually to fill the revenue shortfall for needed roads projects.
  http://desmoinesregister.com/

Design-Build:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/12032016.html

Public-Private Partnerships Editorial:
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/11911526.html