NDACo Conference

County Needs for Long TermHighway and Bridge Funding

Jason BensonCass County Engineer

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.

Federal Funding

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

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.

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

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 Bridge Needs 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

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).

Cass County Available ProjectsProjects per Year with extra State Funding• Asphalt Overlay:

19 miles• Highway Reconstruction:

4 miles• Gravel Road Reconstruction:

8 miles• Bridge Replacement:

4 bridges

Projects per Year without extra State Funding• Asphalt Overlay:

15 miles• Highway Reconstruction:

2 miles• Gravel Road Reconstruction:

0 miles• Bridge Replacement:

2 bridges

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.

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.

Questions?