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Infrastructure

House passes broadband bill

The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation last week to try to make broadband more available to Alabamians, particularly rural Alabamians who few high-speed internet options. House Bill 400 is sponsored by state Representative Randall Shedd, R-Cullman. Shedd said, “We have all seen the map with whole counties in red with declining populations. Young people … Continued
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May 6, 2019

Sen. Gerald Allen elected chairman of Joint Transportation Committee

Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, was unanimously chosen to serve as the chairman of the Joint Transportation Committee in the Legislature by its members. During the March special legislative session, the Joint Transportation Committee’s mission was broadened due to Gov. Kay Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama infrastructure plan. The broadening was meant to create more accountability for the … Continued
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May 1, 2019

Ivey announces McFarland Boulevard expansion in Tuscaloosa

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday that the Alabama Department of Transportation is purchasing the right of way for the expansion of McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa from State Route 69 to Rice Mine Road, as part of the Rebuild Alabama First Year Plan 2020. “Enhancing this particular section of US 82 will provide safer and more … Continued
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April 23, 2019

Gas tax faces court challenge

Alabama’s new gas tax has its first legal challenge — at least to a portion of it. Tom Fredricks, a Morgan County business owner who ran unsuccessfully for an Alabama House seat last year, has filed a challenge to the portion of the gas tax that allows for the revenue to be spent dredging the … Continued
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April 4, 2019
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Robbing Peter to pay Paul

One of the problems exposed during the gas tax debate was the fact that $63 million a year gets diverted out of the Alabama Department of Transportation’s road and bridge funding to pay for state troopers and the court system. The logic (if you can call it that) for this transfer of funds is that … Continued
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March 21, 2019

Reaction to passage of Rebuild Alabama Act

Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed Governor Kay Ivey’s (R) plan to raise fuel taxes to pay for significant increases in road projects and to improve the Port of Mobile. Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, supported the Senate’s approval of the Rebuild Alabama Act. “Over the last ten years we have seen unprecedented growth … Continued
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March 13, 2019

Committee approves Gov. Kay Ivey’s gas tax, infrastructure package

Thursday, the state House Transportation Utilities, and Infrastructure Committee gave a favorable report to a three-bill infrastructure and fuel tax increase package introduced by state Representative Bill Poole. R-Tuscaloosa. Poole told the committee that the passage of the legislation to increase fuel taxes was “critical moment in the history of the state in my judgment.” … Continued
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March 8, 2019

State Senate’s Transportation Committee approves bill to increase oversight of ALDOT

The Alabama Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on Thursday approved a bill by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, that places new oversight of the Alabama Department of Transportation. The State Legislature is heading into day three Friday of a special session that Gov. Kay Ivey called to address her Rebuild Alabama plan for increased infrastructure funding. … Continued
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March 8, 2019