$3.3 B transportation strategy to prepare rural and urban TN for continued growth
Nashville – With businesses moving to the state and Upper Cumberland in record numbers, today Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the Transportation Modernization Act, a historic legislation that will create a new strategy and invest $3.3 billion to accommodate Tennessee’s record growth, address traffic congestion and meet transportation needs across rural and urban communities.
“As families and businesses move to Tennessee in record numbers, we need a transportation plan to keep up with the pace,” said Lee. “Our strategy will meet our state’s transportation needs across rural and urban communities, without new taxes or debt. I commend the General Assembly for its partnership to prepare Tennessee for continued growth and economic opportunity.”
Speaker of the house Cameron Sexton said the act is important to easing congestion.
“The Transportation Modernization Act will play an important part in beginning to ease congestion on our roadways,” said Sexton. “I appreciate Governor Lee, Lieutenant Governor McNally, the House and Senate for their partnership as we all continue working to address our immediate, emerging and long-term transportation and infrastructure needs.”
The bill received bipartisan legislative support and was backed by dozens of organizations across the state. The plan will give the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) the resources needed to solve the state’s current and future mobility challenges, including seeking the use of public-private partnerships to preserve state funds for rural infrastructure priorities, exploring Choice Lanes to decrease congestion and increase economic impact statewide and expanding the alternative delivery model to save taxpayer dollars and deliver road projects more efficiently.
The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R – Franklin), Senate Transportation & Safety Chair Becky Massey (R – Knoxville), House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R – Portland), and House Transportation Chair Dan Howell (R – Cleveland).
