Transportation 2035 - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

December 2012The cost of the Tread Water scenario is 50 percent higher than what the current funding level is. The Swim scenario is 90 percent higher, and the Win scenariois 163 percent higher. Can the State afford this, and are its residents willing to pay for it?Potential new revenues have been identified to fund the four transportation scenarios. This analysis assumes that user fees, rather than general taxes, shouldbe generated in sufficient amounts to achieve a sustainable system. Selling or leasing infrastructure has not been included as an option in this exercise, butthat should not be ruled out. These fees should bea combination of new fees/taxes and a diversionof existing transportation revenues. The followingrevenue sources are considered:• Diversion of existing registration fees totransportation, and increase in fees• Diversion of existing vehicle sales tax• Increase in gas tax• New tolls• New sales tax on fuelParticularly with diversion of revenues from theGeneral Fund to transportation, lawmakers willface difficult choices between replacing thatrevenue or curtailing other state services. Thefuture of transportation funding relies to a greatextent on the authorization of the next federalsurface transportation bill. At a certain point intime, the gas tax will become obsolete when fuelefficiency improves and alternative fuel vehiclesbecome more common.A summary table of this analysis appears on thenext page, and, again, a more detailed table isincluded in the Appendix.TRANSPORTATION NEEDS(in millions of dollars per year)Transportation ProgramsSinkTreadWin theSwimWaterRaceRIDOT Maintenance and Operations $45 $109 $114 $128Capital Maintenance $20 $45 $71 $113Highway $42 $177 $245 $342Traffic Safety $6 $18 $25 $40Bridge $67 $128 $128 $128Bike/Pedestrian $9 $16 $24 $32SPR/PL $5 $8 $8 $8Enhancements $4 $13 $15 $25CMAQ $10 $16 $20 $20Personnel (deduct from proj. cost) -$40 -$40 -$40Commuter Rail / Warwick Station $20 $14 $32 $60ROW $0 $1 $5 $10Design $21 $25 $40 $60RIPTA Bus $112 $155 $175 $225Total $361 $683 $862 $1,150GARVEE* $58Other debt service** $35Total with debt service $454 $683 $862 $1,150*Ends in 2022 at $16.5m per year (peaks 2017-2019 at $51m).**Increases from $41m in 2009 to $63m in 2023 per year if this practice continues.Transportation 2035 (2012 Update)State Guide Plan Element 611Rhode Island Statewide Planning ProgramPage 2-18