Word coming out of the NDDOT indicates trouble, with Federal Aid levels falling. Indications are that Federal funds will only “trickle down” to the states at levels represented by the Highway Trust Fund content, which is about 75% of previous levels from recent years. This fall-off in fund allocation has forced the dropping of 7 or 8 projects from the February Bid Letting (February 18). It appears the concrete overlay project on ND 200 at Hillsboro (originally scheduled for February) has been bumped into future lettings. The Jamestown Bypass Loop concrete paving project has survived.

Word out of Washington, DC is not necessarily positive either. We are depending on our President, Congressmen and Ray LaHood, FHWA Director to lead the charge to find funding sources to maintain the important infrastructure in our highways and bridges. We support an increase in federal gas taxes to make up some or all of the funding shortfalls, but that may not get any traction in the congress. It is truly unfortunate that the Economic Stimulus Package financed with deficit spending so shortchanged the support of the all important infrastructure maintenance, even though it was promoted to do just that. Less than 10% of the Stimulus funds actually went into highways and bridges. See link below from DC Velocity on perspectives on the new Highway Bill:

DC Velocity Article