Transforming transportation: TDOT’s proposal for ‘choice lanes,’ $3 billion in road improvements

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley has completed the mathematics. It will take $26 billion to repair all of Tennessee’s congestion points on interstates. However he says it is $26 billion we do not have. So, he is steering the state in a unique path.

“That is completely a selection,” stated Eley.

He desires to construct Selection Lanes. It is a system Florida and Texas already use, the place a non-public firm builds lanes drivers will pay to make use of to get round all of the site visitors.

“These are further lanes. All the present lanes — common lanes — are going to live on so that folks can have the ability to experience these and make a selection,” stated Eley.

The state will get a lower of these proceeds, which might assist fund different street tasks. However to take action, the state wants permission from lawmakers.

“Enable us to do the authority to do these public-private partnerships,” he stated.

If it is granted, TDOT would come again with specifics subsequent 12 months, and development can be even additional down the street. However that is not the one method the Governor desires to put money into bettering roads.

“We’re proposing a further $3 billion to construct roads in all three Grand Divisions,” stated Gov. Invoice Lee throughout the 2023 State of the State.

It was an enormous announcement, however lawmakers are already curious how that cash can be spent.

“I would like to drill down into that $3 billion and know precisely what tasks are going to be included — fairly probably what’s not included,” stated Sen. Invoice Powers, a Republican from Clarksville, throughout Wednesday’s Senate Transportation Committee assembly.

“The explanation we want extra research is to find out, actually, the prioritization of how we transfer ahead on this,” stated Eley, throughout the committee assembly.

A spokesperson for TDOT stated they know they will divide that $3 billion among the many 4 areas of TDOT in Tennessee. As for what they will particularly spend it on, they stated they will spend the remainder of the 12 months figuring out which particular tasks they need to fund.

The Governor particularly talked about widening interstates in rural areas, which means communities like Clarksville might lastly get extra than simply two lanes on I-24. No matter TDOT decides, the mathematics is fairly clear will probably be years earlier than you discover any enchancment on the street.

“It will take a number of years to get this underway, however we need to begin seeing this work completed as quickly as potential,” stated Eley.

TDOT additionally desires to lift annual registration charges on electrical autos in order that transportation funds stay enough as extra drivers transition from fuel to electrical automobiles.