Governor Peter Shumlin and legislators have
agreed to spend an additional $5 million on potholes and other spring
highway repairs. The money had been set aside for other winter weather
projects.
The House has given preliminary approval to a $120
million bond package that will help pay for road and bridge repair. It would be paid with a five-cent-per-gallon
gas tax increase.
The Douglas Administration is moving very quickly to authorize $85
million in new federal stimulus money for several dozen road
and bridge projects across Vermont.
State officials say dozens of bridge and road projects could be started
in the coming weeks, and they expect these projects will boost
employment in the construction industry.
State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding and Transportation Secretary David Dill discusses a proposal for a new gas tax to improve Vermont’s transportation infrastructure. VPR’s John Dillon examines the deep cuts that are being made to the state budget. And we listen back to some of the voices in the week’s news.
Paul Porier has defeated state Rep. Leo Valliere in a recount of the Barre representative; the Douglas administration hopes that the federal government can pay more for road and bridge repair; more…
The town of Manchester and the state of Vermont are hoping a first of its kind highway-for-cash swap
will save the state money and let the town fulfill a goal town officials have
had for 30 years.
Governor Jim Douglas has come up with an emergency repair program in response
to the chorus of criticism about the state’s bad roads. But
administration officials and legislative leaders say the program is not designed
as a long-term fix for the state’s aging transportation system.