A year after the state transportation commission adopted what it called a “Bolder Five-Year Direction,” it has approved a much-diminished transportation improvement program for the next five years, although calling it an “improvement program” might be seen as a stretch in today’s road building economy. The transportation commission, looking at declining fuel tax revenues, figures it can afford to maintain what the state has but can’t afford significant new road and bridge building for at least five years.
The department’s chief financial officer, Roberta Breaker, says motorists might not notice deterioration of the roads because the the department can afford maintenance. But she says they won’t see new interchanges or new four-lane segments, or other improvements until voters decide how they’re going to provide more money for transportation.