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Expanding the system provides highway capacity to meet long-term traffic flow needs and provides for economic development. Expansion projects typically add lanes to existing roads or build new roads in the highway system. System Expansion projects are normally Table of Project Costs 2013 - 2018 Highway Improvement Program given third priority preference. In prior years, available revenue was projected to be sufficient for basic Modernization Projects needs in the categories of Preservation and Modernization, but did not stretch far enough to fund sorely-needed expansion projects. Many feel that the inability to address highway congestion is hurting the county as it competes for economic growth. While residential growth seems unaffected by congestion, excessive residential growth unaccompanied by desirable non-residential development is viewed by some as a net drain on government resources (e.g. school overcrowding). Highway investment positively impacts our local economy—creating good paying jobs and providing for the efficient movement of goods and people—making an area attractive to desirable economic development. In just one year, the environment in which the county’s 5-Year program is created has changed dramatically. The Sales Tax for Transportation revenue stream provided the county the opportunity increase its allocation to the Expansion category and to propose using bond financing no of projects 12 1 2 15 2 2 30 4 23 1 4 50 146 Worktype Bikepath Bridges Engineering Support Enhancements Facility Guardrail Intersection Paratransit Plan Reconstruction Roadway Signals Total Cost $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 9,058,000 91,400 164,600 2,467,800 177,000 131,000 24,571,900 3,629,700 4,258,200 2,644,400 18,855,340 20,872,600 $ 86,921,940 and to allocate a portion of the new revenue to critical state jurisdiction improvements; however, reduced revenue streams, now expected to be a permanent feature, have extended the timeframes for the progress envisioned. 16 • 2013 - 2018 Highway Improvement Program Figures shown cover only County Bridge, Motor Fuel, Matching, Sales Tax and Bond funds. They do not reflect pre-FY2013 or post-2018 project costs, but do include FY2012 carryover expenditures.