NDACo Conference County Needs for Long Term Highway and Bridge Funding

1. NDACo ConferenceCounty Needs for Long TermHighway and Bridge Funding Jason Benson Cass County Engineer

2. Cass County Facts • Highway system consists of 628 miles of roadway (316 miles of paved roads). • 518 bridges of which 241 span a distance of 20 feet or greater. • Land area more than 1,700 square miles. • 40% of our structures were built prior to 1960.

3. Federal Funding • Federal funding comes from the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents, last increased in 1993.

4. State Funding • Thank the Governor and State Legislature for the increased funding for both oil and non-oil producing counties. • Appreciate the work of the NDDOT in developing effective methods for project selection and funding approval. • Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute Study with detailed cost analysis.

5. State and Local Funding • Other Revenue (such as permit fees) • Local property tax • 23 cent state fuel tax and State motor vehicle license fees • One Time Funding from the State Legislature

6. UGPTI Report • Infrastructure Needs: North Dakota’s County, Township & Tribal Roads and Bridges: 2015-2034 • Cass County and Township Unpaved Road Needs from 2015-2034: $268 Million • Cass County and Township Paved Road Needs from 2015-2034: $139 Million • Cass County and Township BridgeNeeds from 2015-2034: $23.6 Million (does not include minor structures) • Total Cass County and Township Road and Bridge Needs 2015-2034: $431.89 Million

7. Cass County Projected Funding • Without additional Legislative Funding, we will only have $233 million for Cass County Road and Bridge projects between 2015-2034 • With additional Legislative Funding (at current levels of $6 million per year adjusted for inflation), we will have $394 million for Cass County Road and Bridge projects between 2015-2034 • We need additional state funding to keep up with the $431.89 Million in Cass County and Township needs (UGPTI Study).

8. Cass County Available Projects Projects per Year with extra State Funding Projects per Year withoutextra State Funding Asphalt Overlay: 15 miles Highway Reconstruction: 2 miles Gravel Road Reconstruction: 0 miles Bridge Replacement: 2 bridges • Asphalt Overlay: 19 miles • Highway Reconstruction: 4 miles • Gravel Road Reconstruction: 8 miles • Bridge Replacement: 4 bridges

9. Short Term Funding Issue • We need an emergency clause that distributes the highway funding to counties early. • Critical for funding to be allocated quickly and projects bid early. • Without emergency clause, funding not available until July. • Could have caused unnecessary project delays and increased project costs due to late bidding and contracting.

10. Long Term Funding Issue • Funding must be allocated beyond the two year biennium: • Allow Counties to more effectively plan future projects. • Projects designed prior to the new biennium are in limbo due to lack of funding. • Delays in design add cost and further delay bid openings. • Results in heavier project work loads for Counties, consultants, and contractors on the “even years”. This will add project cost and staffing issues.

11. Questions?