Federal highway funds in trouble
Despite continuing infrastructure problems, the government is having trouble funding highway repairs. Steve Henn explains how the rise in gas prices is directly affecting highway improvement projects.
Construction on the I-580 freeway in Emeryville, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: Today in Congress, the House will look at why a federal highway trust fund is about to go broke. Despite last year's bridge collapse in Minneapolis, despite road problems around the country, the government can't seem to find the money to make repairs. Marketplace's Steve Henn reports.
Steve Henn: Back in 2005, Congress approved almost $300 billion in transportation projects. It planned to pay for all this with proceeds from the gas tax. But high gas prices mean Americans are driving less and funds for highway improvements are drying up.
John Horsley runs the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials:
John Horsley: States are facing the loss of approximately $13.5 billion come October. It'll be a massive cut.
A bipartisan commission recently recommended hiking the gas tax to balance the books. But Jack Basso, a former official at the U.S. Department of Transportation is skeptical.
Jack Basso: I can give you this 100 percent certainty: Before the election, nothing's going to happen on that issue. That's for sure.
But over the long haul, Basso believes every option has to be on the table.
In Washington, I'm Steve Henn for Marketplace.
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