Governor Announces Over 100 Road And Bridge Improvements Across The State
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: June 3, 2012
Governor
Robert Bentley on Thursday announced 105 road and bridge improvement
projects
that will now be able to move forward as part of the first round of
funding for ATRIP - the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and
Improvement Program.
ATRIP
is the largest road and bridge improvement program in Alabama's
history. The improvements
are designed to enhance safety and quality of life for people in
communities across the state. Further, the transportation projects will
also serve as an economic development tool. Updated roads and bridges
will help the state recruit additional jobs from
companies that depend on a modern, solid infrastructure to transport
goods.
"From
large cities to rural areas, the people of this state deserve reliable,
safe roads and
bridges," Governor Bentley said. "School buses should not have to be
detoured around substandard bridges. Communities need help improving
roads that are currently over capacity or in need of various safety
improvements."
"Also,
companies depend on updated roads and bridges to help them safely
conduct business and
make deliveries," Governor Bentley added. "As we improve our
infrastructure, we will improve the business climate in the state and
make Alabama more attractive to businesses seeking to locate here and
bring additional jobs."
Governor
Bentley first unveiled the ATRIP program in February. Cities and
counties across the
state then submitted project proposals for the initial round of
funding. ATRIP applications were analyzed by the Alabama Department of
Transportation. Eligible projects were reviewed by an advisory
committee, which, in conjunction with Governor Bentley, made
the final project funding decisions.
There
were applications representing 64 of Alabama's 67 counties, with at
least one project
from 61 counties approved in the first phase of funding. Every eligible
applicant received at least one project. At least two additional
rounds of funding are planned, one in fall 2012 and one in spring 2013.
Projects not selected in the initial phase of
funding are eligible for submission during the second and third phases.
Projects
approved in ATRIP's first phase of funding range from rural to urban
and include resurfacing,
additional lanes, intersection upgrades, and 36 local bridge
replacements. The 105 projects announced Thursday represent $138.5
million in funding during the initial round of ATRIP.
Funding for ATRIP comes through the use of GARVEE bonds. GARVEE is the term commonly used to
describe the Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles Bond Program.
Through
the use of GARVEE bonds, Alabama is able to access future federal
dollars now in order
to pay for road and bridge projects that are needed immediately. With
interest rates on municipal bonds at historic lows, the use of GARVEE
bonds makes strong financial sense as the low cost of borrowing is
generally lower than the rising cost of inflation
in construction projects.
"By
using GARVEE bonds, we are able to make much-needed improvements
without raising taxes,"
Governor Bentley said. "In addition, this program will create
construction jobs across the state as projects move forward, and by
making areas more attractive to prospective employers, the ATRIP program
will help with the long-term recruitment of even more
jobs in the future."
The projects will require a 20 percent funding match provided by either the local government
or through a local public-private partnership, with the remaining 80 percent provided by GARVEE bonds.
Projects
are evaluated on several factors. Some of the criteria involved in the
application
and evaluation process include the ability to provide the required local
match, the functional classification of the road, bridge sufficiency
ratings, traffic counts, project delivery timeline, safety, connectivity
with other highway infrastructure, innovation,
partnerships, and economic, industrial or educational impacts.
