As the revenue stream keeps getting smaller and states such as West Virginia view the future with anxious eyes, Rep. Nick Rahall says all options are on the table for putting money into the Federal Highway Administration — and that includes a higher tax on gasoline.
Before taking the annual Christmas break, Congress enacted a jobs bill that included a one-year extension of the transportation act that had expired three months earlier.
Included was the elimination of the mandatory state match for one year, although the proposal hasn’t been dealt with in the Senate.
“That allows states to go ahead and do the road contracts they need to get under way to continue road maintenance,” Rahall, D-W.Va., said in a meeting with The Register-Herald editorial board.
Not completed yet is the six-year reauthorization bill, and the reason is the question that is circulating from the states to Washington: How is the government going to finance it?
“We’ve had various studies recommended — gas tax increases, toll increases, public-private financing,” Rahall said. “As far as I’m concerned, all options are on the table.”
In West Virginia, financial woes have been outlined before a number of legislative committees. One bill before state lawmakers would expand the West Virginia Parkways Authority, now in charge solely of the turnpike, so that it could ultimately operate toll roads across the state.
Rahall said he feels American taxpayers realize the benefits of having a healthy federal highway budget, especially in West Virginia, which gets $1.60 back for every $1 motorists pay in the federal gas tax.
And that, in turn, spawns some jealousy directed toward West Virginia, he said.
At one time, West Virginia ranked in the top three of states in terms of the return from the FHA from the gas tax. “That’s money coming back for much-needed projects for our infrastructure,” Rahall said. “We know how difficult it is to build a mile of road in southern West Virginia versus a state like Florida. It’s about $24 million to $26 million more per mile. And I know how other forms of transportation that are not available to us are available to the big cities. We need this infrastructure if we’re going to improve our economy in the southern part of the state.”