Posted by Sometimes when I discuss this issue I feel like Don Quixote because I have been charging at this windmill for so long. Still I have always felt this is an important issue to our state so here goes my pitch. It’s no secret that Alabama’s road projects over the years have gone to areas of the state represented by powerful state representatives and senators who engaged in inside-Montgomery trading. That was all well and good in the early days of interstate development, but there are areas of critical need in Alabama–both interstate and state roads–that have fallen victim to politics. The practice of building and repairing roads and bridges in exchange for political favors is both outdated and wrong. And this age-old bartering system must be ended regardless of what Party controls the Governor’s office and the Legislature. Simply put, need must take precedence over greed.
I have taken a keen interest in reforming Alabama’s approach to transportation projects because I represent an area of Alabama—Shelby and Bibb Counties– where traffic is at the breaking point. . Those who commute face a snail’s pace trip to work and home. Frustrated drivers become careless and aggressive and endanger others on the road.
This is why I have long advocated creating a Transportation Commission that would serve as an independent body to oversee road and bridge building improvements in the Alabama Department of Transportation. In fact, for six straight legislative sessions, I have introduced legislation to establish a Commission to be appointed by the Governor for staggered six-year terms. Commissioners would be required to have the professional knowledge and engineering background necessary to develop a comprehensive transportation plan. The Commission would also appoint the Director of the Department of Transportation, thereby preventing political control by the Governor’s office and/or Legislature. Further, Commission members would be responsible for creating a formula to assess where road and bridge projects are most needed rather than the current system of political favoritism. For six straight legislative sessions, this measure has passed the House where I serve but has met its demise in the Senate.
I have once again filed the Transportation Commission bill along with Representative Mac McCutcheon (R-Capshaw) in hopes that there will be a different outcome in the Alabama Senate. Addressing road improvements where they are needed most rather than where they make the most political hay will be a novel idea in Alabama. For every dollar my legislative district sends to Montgomery in gasoline taxes, we get back less than thirty cents in road improvements
Three years ago, the State of Alabama spent nearly $1.6 billion on transportation projects. Unfortunately, less than $600 million was let to contract for infrastructure improvements. The rest of the money was spent primarily on consulting contracts. Shelby and Bibb Counties’ continued and future economic well-being and vitality depends on an adequate and safe road system for its residents. For too long, the state’s transportation planning has served political whims rather than the real needs of local communities. An independent commission for transportation is the first step in keeping politics from slowing the economic growth of a community.
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Rep. Ward, Virginia tried something like this (a non-partisan/bi-partisan Transport Commission) and ended up raising the gas tax to put in toll roads as alternate routes. Alabamians hate taxes, tolls, and trying to act like other states. If the legislature wasn’t so far behind on BRAC funding, this wouldn’t be a problem, the federal dollars we could get would help make I-65 6 lanes or more from Huntsville to Mobile, extend I-85 to I-20/59 in Mississippi so we could move East/West in lower half of the state, and we could build the Florence to Mobile interstate, finally.
Also, we need to know which bridges in Alabama are in dis-repair, I’d like to know when crossing them. Any way you can get the state to you know, put information on-line so citizens can search it; I think knowing which bridges are safe would be helpful when traveling around the state? Or was that what Paragon Source was going to do?
As our population increases, paving over more land by widening existing roadways or building new ones seems like an exercise of futility just trying to keep up with the number of people who utilize roadways on a daily basis, especially in and around our cities.
Could some thought be given to constructing mass transit rail systems in the larger metropolitan areas rather than just more and more roads, or would that help?
Maybe you could speak to the man who is 100% in charge of the state highway department – Governor Riley. You and he (and me) are in the same Republican Party and I am sure if it is brought to his attention that politics controls road building and maintenance in his administration, he would immediately order it stopped. Well, maybe not immediately. After all, he is completely consumed with fighting the Great Satan Bingo – and after that fight is over he will have to deal with less important issues like 11% unemployment, education proration, imminent general fund proration, etc., etc., etc. But first and foremost, he must protect us from Bingo. Lordy, Lordy. Where is Fob when we need him?!
Raises high speed light rail up the median of 65 has long been a though of mine. Imagine the ease of hopping on a train in Montgomery and Off in Birmingham 45 minutes later. Split the rail off to run from Montgomery to Atlanta via 85 and we have a major improvement in the southeast.
I should have asked would that be practical, possible, and would it help.
I think an independent commission to oversee DOT would be good to clean up prblems that have occured under both GOP and Democratic administrations. GOP Gov Fob James had one of the worst reputations with politics for roads.
Oh yea, this is the solution!! Take the politics of roads out the Governor’s hands and put it in the hands of a committee. Then we would have 10 or 12 folks to “convience” that our road project is the most needed!!!! You can’t take the politics out of politics!!! Somebody’s going to be getting “influenced” and it might as well be just one vs. a whole committee! An “independent” committee. There is no such thing!!!!! So, just leave it like it is.
If this “independent” committee is some how enacted, please be sure Senator Larry Means of Etowah County, is on the committee. He’d be the perfect “independent”. He’s on the payroll of an asphalt contractor, and on the take from Merchants Capital. He’s just the kind we need on such a committee. He has vast experience in roads and “taking”.
Well Goat Hill I think your posts speak for themselves. Not sure my solution is perfect but would certainly welcome other ideas besides the status quo.
Rep. Ward,
I support the idea of the creation of an independent DOT oversight board. The disparity in the quality and quantity of roads in the different parts of this state is appalling. I look at Mississippi and wonder how they are able to maintain high quality roads in all parts of that state and we still have high-density trunk roads in this state that are still two-laned.