NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The state of Tennessee was still needing $6 billion to finish all the state's highway projects.
In 25 years, it has been projected there will an additional two million people living in the state, and we’re in need of the infrastructure to support that. Right now the money isn't there to build it.
Governor Bill Haslam has been aware of that, and that's why he has been holding a series of discussions to not only listen to other city leader's concerns, but also develop a solution that works for everyone.
Right now there are $6 billion in projects that should be given the green light, but the funding isn't there to get them started, let alone complete them.
“Well, we have electric cars that aren't paying any gas tax, maybe that should solve the problem,” Governor Haslam said. “That would add us about $500,000 a year. There's people who say maybe a toll road, but a toll road, are we going to build toll roads everywhere? I don't think Tennesseans really want that.”
There's also been talk of financing the projects, but the governor doesn't like that option either.
We are a pay as you go state, we don't have any debt, and he'd like to keep it that way.
These series of discussions have been set to wrap up in September. After that the governor has been scheduled to begin working on a possible solution.
