State Representative Jeremy Faison, Department Of Transportation Update Constituents On Federal Highway Trust Fund

State Representative Jeremy Faison (R–Cosby) joined with the Tennessee Department of Transportation earlier this week to give an update on the current status of the Federal Highway Trust Fund and its effect on community road projects across the state.

According to the Department, federal funding for state transportation projects continues to move sluggishly, with revenues in the Highway Trust Fund falling significantly short of the expenditures authorized by Congress. Because of this budget shortfall, general fund transfers must be made to support the program—a decision which experts agree is not fiscally sustainable in the long run.

“It is very disappointing to see the federal government has once again mismanaged our tax dollars,” said Representative Faison. “With our nation’s debt currently sitting at over $17 trillion, you would hope those in Washington would think twice about how to best to spend its resources. Unfortunately, these shortsighted decisions of Congress will have a direct impact on the future road projects here in Tennessee.”

Because of the transportation budget shortfall on the federal level, this also means that state projects must be scaled back. With approximately 50% of the state’s transportation budget coming from the federal government, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has been forced to delay 33 total projects this fiscal year. Included in these delays are two projects previously slated to begin this year in Greene County.

“We must do all we can to influence Congress in developing a long term transportation plan that will help our state continue to build and maintain a transportation network that can support a strong and vibrant economy,” Faison concluded.