Iowa officials set plans for new transportation funds from gas tax

AMES — Armed with nearly a half billion dollars more than expected to develop the next five-year highway plan — thanks to a 10-cent gas tax increase — Iowa transportation leaders will look to strike a balance between building new roads and fixing existing highways and bridges.

Members of the Iowa Transportation Commission indicated during meetings with the Iowa Department of Transportation on Monday and Tuesday in Ames they want scenarios from both columns.

'The guidance we left with is increased investment in the stewardship category and widening some of these priority corridors,' said Stuart Anderson, director of the planning, programming and modal division at the Iowa DOT.

At the meeting Tuesday, the commission approved a budget amendment for $33.2 million tied to extra revenue from the gas tax for work around the state, highlighted by one of those key corridor projects — completing the widening of Highway 20 in northwest Iowa.

The DOT will begin acquiring land for the expansion of Highway 20 to four lanes with the expectation the commission will plug the roughly $220 million project into years 2016 and 2017 of its 2016-20 plan, which is slated for adoption in June.

Also at the meeting Tuesday, the commission approved grants through the RISE program, or Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy. In Eastern Iowa, Iowa City received a $283,027 RISE grant as a 50 percent match to extend Northgate Drive by 1,010 feet. The road, expected to be complete by November, should unlock nine lots over 14 acres for professional office space in the business park on the northeast edge of the city.

Monday and Tuesday marked the first time the agency and its oversight board have met since the state approved a gas tax, and much of the meetings were devoted to a strategy for the 2016-20 highway plan.

The gas tax approval comes after years of discussion about the woeful shape of roads and bridges in Iowa, backed by an estimated $215 million annual backlog of critical needs. Critics have questioned how building new roads addresses the criticial needs promised with the gas tax increase.

Anderson said critical needs are not defined just as roads in poor shape, but also could be roads that are too congested.

'It's not just existing roads and bridges, but other critical needs that exist, such as the efficient movement of goods. Also, roads with additional capacity can create traffic and safety issues.'

In addition to the gas tax increase, the DOT expects more money from other sources in its primary road fund. The trend of people driving less has slowed, and registration fee proceeds are exceeding forecasts as people are buying more new cars, according to DOT projections.

DOT staff indicated speeding up the widening of Highway 30 in Benton County is a reasonable option for the five-year plan, and installing an Interstate 380 interchange at Forevergreen Road in Johnson County could jump ahead of plans to replace the I-380/I-80 interchange beginning in 2018. The Forevergreen interchange would alleviate backups caused by the replacement project, they said.

The commission also is interested in stewardship. For example, a road due for replacement in 15 years could double its life through timely pavement treatments at a fraction of the cost, according to John Selmer, director of the DOT's performance and technology division.

The commission called a special telephonic meeting March 26 to continue discussion of the five-year plan.